MOSCOW -- Russia's International Relations Council (RIAC) has developed a special project called "Russia in the Balkans", writes Montenegro's portal Analitika
Moscow develops special strategy for the Balkans: How to infiltrate everywhere
MOSCOW -- Russia's International Relations Council (RIAC) has developed a special project called "Russia in the Balkans", writes Montenegro's portal Analitika
Source: Portal Analitika
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The Council (RIAC) is an influential academic and diplomatic group in the form of a think-tank, chaired by former Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov, current Russian President's Secretary Dmitry Peskov, current Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Igor Morgulov, and others.
Among its co-founders are, according to Analitika, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, Russian Ministry of Education and Science, Russian Academy of Sciences, Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, and the international media group Interfax.
In a document called "Russia in the Balkans" released this year, Russia's strategy is set out in five chapters. The Balkans are described as the "epicenter of international developments", looking at the present circumstances within the region and analyzing the interests of leading actors, and finally proposing a new Russian strategy for this area.
According to Analitika, the document is not diplomatically moderate, and it's rather packed with Cold War terms. In this document, it is stated, among other things, that "Russia is interested in preserving stability in the Balkans, but it is also interested in preserving various forms of the presence it has historically enjoyed in the region".
This special document, among other things, points out that the Balkans can play an important role in the upcoming architecture of relations, but also notes that Russia does not have as much influence in the Balkans as the Western media present through pushing the "Russian threat" narrative.
Therefore, a new approach and a new strategy for Russia in the Balkans are proposed. And Russia's proposed new strategy consists of three chapters analyzing the factors influencing Russia's foreign policy towards the Balkans, the importance of the Balkans to Russia, and proposing a Russian action plan based on specific tactical principles.
First, all EU's "failures" in the Balkans are listed, mentioning "the short-sighted political decisions, mishaps and blunders of the leading EU states in their relations with the 'main candidate for accession', Serbia". Here, "the scandal at the Switzerland–Serbia game at the 2018 World Cup" is mentioned, and "the disrespect for the Serbian delegation during the events marking the allied victory 100 years ago in World War I in Paris".
Among negative factors, "the impossibility of counteracting NATO's expansion" is listed as the first one. Russia could not give an answer to this vital and particularly sensitive question. Montenegro has already become a NATO member in 2017. Having made radical changes to its statehood, Macedonia received an invitation and will become a member in the near future.
The coordinated Euro-Atlantic position is also regarded as negative. United States, United Kingdom and the Visegrád Group have a coordinated stance on the issue of the Balkans' Euro-Atlantic integration.
Then a list of reason follows, as to why Russia should not abandon its interests in the Balkans, leading to the conclusion that "if the Balkans ultimately moves into the Euro-Atlantic realm of influence, Russia will significantly worsen its situation in Europe", which will, in turn, "untie Brussels' hands and open new opportunities for the European Union to expand eastward".
Russia's action plan
Russia's withdrawal from the Balkans means that Russia will lose a key area on its "playing field" as a significant segment of overall antagonizing policies towards the west, the author of the text Nebojsa Todorovic states.
Therefore, Russia needs to develop a new strategy for the Balkans, with an understanding of the region's systemic prospects. Some of those "tactical" principles are the following:
- Creating and supporting constructive political forces in Serbia, Slovenia, Croatia, Albania and other countries in the region, forces that would be oriented toward Moscow's projects,
- Expanding its media presence in the Balkans. Replacing the narrative of "Russia as a security provider" and "Russia as an energy supplier" with "Russia as a vehicle of regional stability," "Russia as a vehicle of humanitarian cooperation" and "Russia as a supplier of e-technologies and efficient technological solutions",
- Continuing and increasing investment into regional manufacturing companies,
- Converting economic presence into the growth of educational, economic and cultural cooperation,
- Developing constructive approaches to religion, taking the trend towards the fragmentation of the Eastern Christian space into account.
Ataman,
Not a chance, Serbia is surrounded by NATO, on land and sea. However, sj has a theory that Putin is digging a tunnel from Russia to Serbia. By that time the US will have colonized Mars. Perhaps then, Putin will try to dig a tunnel from Earth to the red planet.
(Tonto, 28 October 2019 05:29)
Well the Pansir and S400 are in Serbia now so therefore it must be concluded that Putin has already built the tunnel since Serbia is surrounded by NATO LOL. If life was as easy as you paint it then the west would have taken over the entire world but it has not.
(sj, 28 October 2019 12:08)
(Tonto, 28 October 2019 05:29)
Currently, the US has only 3 brigades combat ready.
The US Navy has 278 ships, but needs 355. The air force needs 1,200 fighter aircraft, but has 923 and most equipment is old and cannibalisation of aircraft to make others airworthy. It's short of 1,000 pilots and 3,000 maintenance workers. Pilot experience is said to be at historic lows.
The US has lost "uncontested or dominant superiority in every operating domain".
The Seventh fleet was short of sailors. Those it had were often poorly trained and worked to exhaustion. Its warships were falling apart, and a bruising, ceaseless pace of operations meant there was little chance to get necessary repairs done. The other US fleets suffer the same problems. If not, what has stopped the US from attacking Iran LOL?
Thomas-Durell Young from the Naval Postgraduate School in California wrote a paper where the situation is “both serious and desperate.” The navies of Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Slovenia, Albania and Montenegro all suffer from either old ships which are rust buckets or ships on paper only, but admits spending by these countries on their militaries is difficult because they are poor. Yes, even rich Croatia is POOR.
Now what was that about Serbia being surrounded and Putin and the tunnel again LOL?
(sj, 28 October 2019 09:42)
Ataman,
Not a chance, Serbia is surrounded by NATO, on land and sea. However, sj has a theory that Putin is digging a tunnel from Russia to Serbia. By that time the US will have colonized Mars. Perhaps then, Putin will try to dig a tunnel from Earth to the red planet.
(Tonto, 28 October 2019 05:29)
I am kind of thinking, the plan with Crimea was long in brewing, probably even at the time the Russian military took the Prishtina airport.
The systematic pulling back from Kosovo was an invitation - to create a second Cyprus, chaos and a precedent to take Crimea later.
Which was absolutely necessary because of the Sevastopol status.
To be honest: the ownership of Sevastopol and Humaymim (near Lattakia, Syria) military bases is much more important for Kremlin that Bogorodica Ljevishka church in Prizren.
Kosovo was a very convenient excuse for both Crimea and Syria.
Now as both are more-less secured (Crimea for sure), Kosovo has more chances to get Russian attention.
(Ataman, 25 October 2019 21:37)
I am kind of thinking, the plan with Crimea was long in brewing, probably even at the time the Russian military took the Prishtina airport.
The systematic pulling back from Kosovo was an invitation - to create a second Cyprus, chaos and a precedent to take Crimea later.
Which was absolutely necessary because of the Sevastopol status.
To be honest: the ownership of Sevastopol and Humaymim (near Lattakia, Syria) military bases is much more important for Kremlin that Bogorodica Ljevishka church in Prizren.
Kosovo was a very convenient excuse for both Crimea and Syria.
Now as both are more-less secured (Crimea for sure), Kosovo has more chances to get Russian attention.
(Ataman, 25 October 2019 21:37)
Ataman,
Not a chance, Serbia is surrounded by NATO, on land and sea. However, sj has a theory that Putin is digging a tunnel from Russia to Serbia. By that time the US will have colonized Mars. Perhaps then, Putin will try to dig a tunnel from Earth to the red planet.
(Tonto, 28 October 2019 05:29)
Well the Pansir and S400 are in Serbia now so therefore it must be concluded that Putin has already built the tunnel since Serbia is surrounded by NATO LOL. If life was as easy as you paint it then the west would have taken over the entire world but it has not.
(sj, 28 October 2019 12:08)
(Tonto, 28 October 2019 05:29)
Currently, the US has only 3 brigades combat ready.
The US Navy has 278 ships, but needs 355. The air force needs 1,200 fighter aircraft, but has 923 and most equipment is old and cannibalisation of aircraft to make others airworthy. It's short of 1,000 pilots and 3,000 maintenance workers. Pilot experience is said to be at historic lows.
The US has lost "uncontested or dominant superiority in every operating domain".
The Seventh fleet was short of sailors. Those it had were often poorly trained and worked to exhaustion. Its warships were falling apart, and a bruising, ceaseless pace of operations meant there was little chance to get necessary repairs done. The other US fleets suffer the same problems. If not, what has stopped the US from attacking Iran LOL?
Thomas-Durell Young from the Naval Postgraduate School in California wrote a paper where the situation is “both serious and desperate.” The navies of Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Slovenia, Albania and Montenegro all suffer from either old ships which are rust buckets or ships on paper only, but admits spending by these countries on their militaries is difficult because they are poor. Yes, even rich Croatia is POOR.
Now what was that about Serbia being surrounded and Putin and the tunnel again LOL?
(sj, 28 October 2019 09:42)
Ataman,
Not a chance, Serbia is surrounded by NATO, on land and sea. However, sj has a theory that Putin is digging a tunnel from Russia to Serbia. By that time the US will have colonized Mars. Perhaps then, Putin will try to dig a tunnel from Earth to the red planet.
(Tonto, 28 October 2019 05:29)
Ataman,
Not a chance, Serbia is surrounded by NATO, on land and sea. However, sj has a theory that Putin is digging a tunnel from Russia to Serbia. By that time the US will have colonized Mars. Perhaps then, Putin will try to dig a tunnel from Earth to the red planet.
(Tonto, 28 October 2019 05:29)
I am kind of thinking, the plan with Crimea was long in brewing, probably even at the time the Russian military took the Prishtina airport.
The systematic pulling back from Kosovo was an invitation - to create a second Cyprus, chaos and a precedent to take Crimea later.
Which was absolutely necessary because of the Sevastopol status.
To be honest: the ownership of Sevastopol and Humaymim (near Lattakia, Syria) military bases is much more important for Kremlin that Bogorodica Ljevishka church in Prizren.
Kosovo was a very convenient excuse for both Crimea and Syria.
Now as both are more-less secured (Crimea for sure), Kosovo has more chances to get Russian attention.
(Ataman, 25 October 2019 21:37)
(Tonto, 28 October 2019 05:29)
Currently, the US has only 3 brigades combat ready.
The US Navy has 278 ships, but needs 355. The air force needs 1,200 fighter aircraft, but has 923 and most equipment is old and cannibalisation of aircraft to make others airworthy. It's short of 1,000 pilots and 3,000 maintenance workers. Pilot experience is said to be at historic lows.
The US has lost "uncontested or dominant superiority in every operating domain".
The Seventh fleet was short of sailors. Those it had were often poorly trained and worked to exhaustion. Its warships were falling apart, and a bruising, ceaseless pace of operations meant there was little chance to get necessary repairs done. The other US fleets suffer the same problems. If not, what has stopped the US from attacking Iran LOL?
Thomas-Durell Young from the Naval Postgraduate School in California wrote a paper where the situation is “both serious and desperate.” The navies of Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Slovenia, Albania and Montenegro all suffer from either old ships which are rust buckets or ships on paper only, but admits spending by these countries on their militaries is difficult because they are poor. Yes, even rich Croatia is POOR.
Now what was that about Serbia being surrounded and Putin and the tunnel again LOL?
(sj, 28 October 2019 09:42)
Ataman,
Not a chance, Serbia is surrounded by NATO, on land and sea. However, sj has a theory that Putin is digging a tunnel from Russia to Serbia. By that time the US will have colonized Mars. Perhaps then, Putin will try to dig a tunnel from Earth to the red planet.
(Tonto, 28 October 2019 05:29)
Well the Pansir and S400 are in Serbia now so therefore it must be concluded that Putin has already built the tunnel since Serbia is surrounded by NATO LOL. If life was as easy as you paint it then the west would have taken over the entire world but it has not.
(sj, 28 October 2019 12:08)
