Arsovski: With Trump's return, Serbia will strengthen, Kurti and Kosovo will lose out

Analyst from Skopje, Petar Arsovski, has assessed that the return of Donald Trump to the White House will alter key positions in the Western Balkans. He believes that this shift will strengthen the position of Serbia and its President, Aleksandar Vucic, while Kosovo and its Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, will be at a disadvantage.

Arsovski notes that Trump's strong performance in the US elections was somewhat unexpected, especially among those who anticipated a significant lead for Democratic candidate Kamala Harris.

"The election results will undergo further analysis, but initially, it appears that democracy, despite being crucial in the decision-making process, has leaned towards Trump. This indicates a tightening of the neoliberalism that has prevailed in the United States until now," Arsovski stated for Kosovo Online.

He believes that Donald Trump's return to the White House will not lead to a complete shift in US foreign policy toward North Macedonia and the Western Balkans, but it will impact the positions of certain countries in the region.

Arsovski emphasizes that the position of Serbia and its president, Aleksandar Vucic, will strengthen, while Kosovo and its Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, will find themselves in a more unfavorable position. He notes that Trump considers Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban his best ally in the region, which could result in stronger support for right-wing forces in the Balkans.

"The general foreign policy of the United States will not change completely; it won’t take a 180-degree turn. But certain key points in the Balkans will change. For example, Trump considers Orban his best ally in this region. Vucic's position will strengthen, and Kurti's position will weaken. So, we can expect more serious support for the right wing in the region," Arsovski concluded.