Do Bulgaria’s Historical Russian Ties Spell Trouble for NATO and the Black Sea Region?

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In the lead-up to Albania’s parliamentary election on May 11, experts from the Europe Center unpack the key players, issues, and dynamics shaping this weekend’s election.

Elections
Europe & Eurasia

Do Bulgaria’s Historical Russian Ties Spell Trouble for NATO and the Black Sea Region?

New Atlanticist
Apr 23, 2025

What’s at stake for Bosnia and Herzegovina as Milorad Dodik faces a political reckoning?

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With his secessionist threats seemingly at a dead end, Milorad Dodik’s external backers might view him as more of a liability than an asset.

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Do Bulgaria’s Historical Russian Ties Spell Trouble for NATO and the Black Sea Region?

New Atlanticist
Feb 4, 2025

Fearmongering from Western Balkan leaders is no longer working on their citizens—or the EU

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The European Union has ample leverage to press its concerns on reforms, Russia policy, and regional stability to Western Balkan countries.

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#BalkansDebrief

The Atlantic Council Europe Center‘s #BalkansDebrief series features timely conversations on key issues impacting the Western Balkans. Nonresident senior fellow Ilva Tare hosts newsmakers, experts, and officials for discussions on rule of law, energy security, cultural heritage, Russian and Chinese influence in the region, and more.

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Content

https://mwi.usma.edu/ghosts-soviets-past-bulgarias-historical-russian-ties-spell-trouble-nato-black-sea-coast/

NATOSource

May 4, 2017

Do Bulgaria’s Historical Russian Ties Spell Trouble for NATO and the Black Sea Region?

By Adam Maisel and Will DuVal, Modern War Institute

The November election of Rumen Radev as president of Bulgaria has contributed to growing concerns that several former Soviet satellite states are drifting back into the orbit of Putin’s Russia.

NATO Russia

UkraineAlert

May 1, 2017

What Can Ukraine Learn from the Balkans?

By Gunther Fehlinger

Ukraine wants to join the European Union, but the level of support among many EU member states is low or nonexistent. Many are afraid of Russia’s reaction and lack a clear understanding of both the climate in post-Euromaidan Ukraine and the country’s strong commitment to Western integration. The situation is challenging in all aspects. War […]

Moldova The Balkans

UkraineAlert

Apr 10, 2017

Is Russia Winning in Serbia? Maybe, But Not for the Reasons You Think

By Dimitar Bechev

One year ago, in April 2016 when Serbia held snap polls, the BBC ran the headline “Pro-EU Prime Minister Vučić Claims Victory.” One year later, after Aleksandar Vučić’s resounding win in the presidential election on April 2, the international media has styled him “Putin’s Serb ally.” Who’s right and where is Serbian foreign policy heading? […]

European Union International Organizations

Transcript

Mar 30, 2017

Securing Southeastern Europe: A New Model for Progress in the Balkans?

Securing Southeastern Europe: A New Model for Progress in the Balkans?  Introductions:Damon Wilson,Executive Vice President,Atlantic Council

The Balkans

Video

Mar 28, 2017

Montenegro in NATO?
The Balkans

New Atlanticist

Mar 22, 2017

US Engagement in the Balkans Seen as Vital

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Albanian foreign minister said United States has a ‘decisive’ role in Balkan reforms It is critical for the United States to deepen its engagement in the Balkans—a region that faces threats from terrorists as well as Russia, Albanian Foreign Minister Ditmir Bushati said in Washington on March 21. In February, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama […]

European Union International Organizations
https://www.flickr.com/photos/dhsgov/33133469112/in/photolist-StTG1Q-SPJncV-T1EEJ5-StTF7W-RLasV3-SsNUBq-T9zGit-SwjDHa-StTFxW-RKiDBv-m9MW9r-SQhxHz-RM7eWX-SG5gAY-T4DcGd-SE1CTs-SdmPhZ-SFmuyw-RLasJS-SZJTL4-SuoijN-Srn9qA-kGQ2is-QDxFTU-RxcVRQ-SPwgVX-S93viJ-SLLhRP-RdnrKG-SZ54hN-RM4rBe-kUed9d-T2sbjg-SvcBp1-RnwurS-SrjQdZ-RJyPT1-RwPv4Z-SXpz6u-RNZZYg-8aHDTh-SLLi4T-StTEpJ-S8N9Eb-S85F5u-SfQsvm-RS4aJW-QWKNfA-R6BpYT-SMhuWN

NATOSource

Mar 22, 2017

Tillerson Urges Senate Ratification of Montenegro’s NATO Membership

By Patricia Zengerle, Reuters

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has written to the leaders of the U.S. Senate urging the ratification of Montenegro as the newest member of the NATO alliance

NATO Russia

New Atlanticist

Mar 22, 2017

Despite Sen. Rand Paul, Montenegro’s Foreign Minister is Confident of NATO Membership

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Montenegro’s Foreign Minister Srdjan Darmanovic is confident that, despite a procedural setback, the US Senate will ratify a protocol that will allow his nation to become the twenty-ninth member of NATO. This, he said, should happen before the Alliance’s summit in Brussels in May. NATO foreign ministers signed the Accession Protocol with Montenegro in May […]

European Union International Organizations

In the News

Mar 22, 2017

Balkan Insight Features Atlantic Council Event on Security in Southeastern Europe

By Atlantic Council

Read the full article here.

The Balkans

UkraineAlert

Feb 23, 2017

The West Needs to Call Russia’s Bluff in the Balkans

By Dimitar Bechev

For all the uncertainties about the Balkans, one thing stays the same. Every few years, the headline “We Are Heading for War Again” crops up in the Western media. The last time this happened, the 2014 centennial of the First World War inspired pundits to ask whether the world is on the cusp of another […]

Russia The Balkans
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Experts

Staff

Bailey Galicia

Project Assistant

Adrienne Arsht National Security Resilience Initiative GeoStrategy Initiative

Europe & Eurasia Extremism

European Leadership Accelerator Participant

Leon Leskovec

Head of Cabinet for Karlo Ressler, Member of the European Parliament

Millennium Leadership Program

Central Europe Politics & Diplomacy

Fellow

Agon Maliqi

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Europe Center

Albanian Bosnian

Fellow

David H. Young

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Afghanistan Conflict

Fellow

Jeffrey Hovenier

Nonresident senior fellow

Europe Center

Croatian Europe & Eurasia

Fellow

Jonathan Moore

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Europe Center

Bosnian Croatian
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