Garčević Weighs in on Balkan Security Amid US-Ukraine Relations

Ambassador Vesko Garčević, Professor of the Practice of International Relations at Boston University’s Pardee School of Global Studies, recently lent his expertise to an article featured in the oldest Montenegrin daily Pobjeda (Victory). The piece, titled “Biden Worried about the Increasingly Strong Influence of Russia through Serbia,” published on January 29, delved into the potential security ramifications for Europe and the Balkans should the United States decide to terminate its assistance for Ukraine.

In his analysis, Ambassador Garčević provided valuable insights alongside Jakub Bielamowicz from the Institute of New Europe in Poland. Both experts were called upon to comment on President Biden’s recent warning regarding the precarious situation facing the Balkans in the event of US withdrawal from Ukraine.

Ambassador Garčević contextualized President Biden’s warning within the framework of domestic US politics, highlighting the halt in aid to Ukraine in Congress due to pressing domestic concerns, particularly surrounding border security measures. He underscored the Republican stance, which links additional aid to Ukraine with measures aimed at managing migration along the US-Mexico border. By issuing a cautionary statement about the Balkans, President Biden aimed to underscore the potential security implications for Europe should the US withdraw support from Ukraine. Ambassador Garčević warned of the dire consequences Ukraine could face without US assistance, ultimately putting European security at risk, necessitating American involvement.

Moreover, Ambassador Garčević emphasized that the Balkans has not held a top-tier priority for Washington since the fall of Serbian President Milošević more than two decades ago. He noted the emergence of new geopolitical hotspots in the Middle East, diverting attention away from the region. As a result, Ambassador Garčević predicted limited American engagement in the Balkans in the foreseeable future, suggesting that US involvement would likely only intensify in the case of further escalation or if the situation were to deteriorate beyond control.

Ambassador Garčević’s astute analysis offers valuable insights into the intricate geopolitical dynamics shaping the Balkans and underscores the interconnected nature of global security interests.

Ambassador Vesko Garčević dealt with issues pertinent to European security and NATO for almost 14 years during his diplomatic career. In 2004, he was posted in Vienna to serve as Ambassador to Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. He was Montenegro’s Ambassador to NATO from 2010 until 2014 and served as Montenegro’s National Coordinator for NATO from 2015 until he joined the faculty at the Pardee School. Learn more about Ambassador Garčević on his faculty profile.