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In the Pentagon document, the Balkans emerges as a region endangered by autocrats and Russian money
The United States Congress has included the Western Balkans, including Albania, in a special chapter of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), calling the region an area essential for peace, stability, and prosperity in Europe.
In the document provided by the US Senate, Congress states that cooperation with the six countries in the region – Albania, Kosovo, Serbia, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina – is in the direct interest of US national security.
The draft law emphasizes that despite economic progress and efforts to integrate into the European Union, the Balkans remain a sensitive area, exposed to high-level corruption, disinformation sponsored by foreign actors, weaknesses in cyber infrastructure, and dependence on Russian energy resources. The US Congress considers the fight against corruption and the strengthening of democratic governance as a fundamental condition for the sustainable development of the region and as part of efforts to detach the Balkans from the influence of Moscow and Beijing.
The document also highlights the growing risk of Russian interference and Chinese influence, particularly through energy dependence and strategic infrastructure investments, which Congress says could negatively impact democratic competition and the region’s European integration. The United States expresses support for regional initiatives such as the Berlin Process, the Regional Common Market, and the “Open Balkans” initiative, as long as they implement high standards of transparency and inclusiveness.
Particular concern is raised about the situation in Serbia, where the parliamentary and local elections in December 2023 have been described by the OSCE as problematic, with serious violations of the electoral process and attempts to criminalize opposition protests and civil society voices. This situation, according to the Congress, poses a threat to regional stability.
Albania, as a NATO member and EU candidate country, is mentioned in this document as a key partner for cyber defense and strengthening democratic institutions in the region. US assistance will focus on strengthening security capacities, including through cooperation with the US Cyber Command and special State Department programs that support transparency, accountability, and inclusive economic development.
Through this draft, Washington signals a clearer and more determined policy towards the Balkans, placing Albania and its neighbors at the center of new strategies for geopolitical competition with Russia and China in Southeast Europe. The law is expected to be officially approved by Congress in early 2026. /Pamphlet
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