Review article
USA vs Russia: The game of powers on the territoryof the former Yugoslavia
Andrej Rendić
orcid.org/0000-0002-3584-8998
; University of Zadar
Abstract
At the end of the 20th century, the territory of the countries that came into existence with the dissolution of former Yugoslavia became the grounds on which conflict of interest between global superpowers started to take place, particularly that between the USA and Russia. The manner in which the two rivaling giants attempt to secure their interests in the region differs immensely. On the one hand, the USA secured its involvement in the region by establishing itself as a mediator in ending the wars in the 90s (BiH, Kosovo) and this grip got even stronger with the help of the so-called Euro- Atlantic integrations and inclusion of the newly formed Balkan countries into NATO (Slovenia, Croatia, Albania). On the other hand, Putin’s Russia pulls leverage through energetic projects in Serbia, Montenegro and BiH. The most obvious culmination of the Russo-American diplomatic conflict in the region occurred in Montenegro, which escaped the sphere of Russian influence following a series of affairs involving Russian secret agencies, much to the benefit of the USA. After the incident Russia started exert its corruptive influence and set boogey-traps for „Western” initiatives aimed at political stabilization at the region. This spoiling influence (BiH, Kosovo, Macedonia) has as its agenda the strengthening of Russian geopolitical influence in Europe, destabilized through the Ukranian crisis and the annexation of Crimea.
Keywords
former Yugoslav territory; great powers; NATO; Russia; Russo-American influence; Southeast Europe
Hrčak ID:
240737
URI
Publication date:
8.7.2020.
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