Experts: The focus of the new US administration will be Ukraine and the Middle East - the Western Balkans "remains in the shadows"
The well-known Serbian political scientist Ognjen Gogic said that Kosovo can serve as an example to test the concept of territory exchange, which could also be applied in the conflicts in Palestine and Ukraine. According to him, the Balkans are not high on the agenda of the new American administration, led by Donald Trump, which will focus on China, the Middle East and Ukraine.
Gogic noted that while the Balkans did not receive significant attention during the previous election campaign, there are no indications that the region will be a priority for the Trump administration.
"The Balkans will be low on the list of priorities, as America focuses on global issues, such as China and Ukraine," said Gogic.
Gogic, who follows global political trends, pointed out that the new appointments in the Trump administration indicate that the US will concentrate on China and the Middle East, especially Israel.
"Trump is known for his pragmatic attitude towards the conflict in Ukraine and his personal sympathy for Putin, so he believes that the conflict should be ended as soon as possible, perhaps with concessions from Kiev," added Gogic.
It is unclear, however, how the Republicans will react to these views, but Gogic emphasized that the response to the Balkans is unlikely to be a priority. He also recalled that during the presidency of Joseph Biden, the administration did not focus on the Western Balkans, because important global issues, such as the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, distracted attention.
Serbia and Republika Srpska, according to Gogic, are looking forward to the new arrival of Trump, believing that he will have a more flexible attitude in the dispute with Kosovo, while Sarajevo and Pristina had higher expectations from Biden.
"Trump, however, does not seem to be dealing with the Balkans unless the region is connected to some other important issue," Gogic pointed out.
Gogic emphasizes that the talks on the territorial exchange in the conflict between Serbia and Kosovo, which were conducted during Trump's first term, can be used as a basis for further peace efforts in Palestine and Ukraine. "If we go in the direction of territorial exchanges in these conflicts, Kosovo can serve as a precedent," concluded Gogic.
In the context of global political tensions, Gogić pointed out that it is possible that Trump will offer new solutions to the Ukrainian conflict, which would include territorial concessions, something that is already being considered as a way to end the war.