Weekly Webinar Series: 'Trump World Order: The Balkans'

What does Trump’s presidency truly mean for the Western Balkans? Will his ‘America First’ policy leave the region on the periphery, or could his approach bring a fresh perspective to its long-standing challenges? These pressing questions, along with the broader implications of his foreign policy, were explored by Tatjana Lazarevic, Petrit Selimi, Cameron Munter and Dr Helena Ivanov.

As President-elect Trump approaches inauguration day, the Western Balkans remain a region fraught with unresolved conflicts, casting a long shadow over its progress and stability. Among the most contentious issues is the ongoing normalisation process between Kosovo and Serbia, which often feels like a ‘one step forward, two steps back’ endeavour, with escalating tensions becoming the norm. In the wake of Trump’s re-election, the region has seen mixed reactions, including celebratory billboards in the predominantly Serb north of Kosovo.

Timestamps:
0:00 – Introduction
2:10 – Tatjana Lazarevic on perception of Trump and the U.S. in Serbia
8:00 – Shift from unipolarity to multipolarity
16:55 – Petri Selimi on the nuances of Trump's approach to the Western Balkans
19:07 – US election day, conservatism and Trump support among Albanians and Kosovo diaspora
22:10 – Current US-Serbia relations and how that will evolve moving forward
26:25 – A look ahead at inauguration day and Kosovo elections
28:45 – Cameron Munter on governance and foreign policy towards the Western Balkans under Trump in 2025
33:00 – President Vučić, Russia and Ukraine
38:00 – Warnings to Serbs that are happy with Trump's election
40:40 – Question 1: What does Trump’s return to the White House mean for the ability of Russia and China to exert influence over the Western Balkans?
57:25 - Question 2: Is the concept of land swaps now seen as unrealistic given the lack of substantive political contact between Belgrade and Pristina, or could it be put back on Washington’s agenda?