Korkmaz: Turkey wants good relations with Serbia, but Kosovo will always be able to count on Ankara's support

Turkey is an important player in the Western Balkans, and it has been since the beginning of the Yugoslav crisis. Ankara's role is crucial, especially considering the uncertainty about who the next US president will be. In the event that Trump wins, the question arises of what he will do and what his policy towards the Western Balkans will be, Visne Korkmaz, a professor of international relations and Deputy Director of the Center for Mediterranean Security (CEMES), says in an interview with Kosovo Online.

Korkmaz emphasizes that Kosovo and Bosnia are two points in the Balkans where Turkish influence is most visible.

"In terms of Kosovo, it is a unique relationship. Turkey was one of the first countries to recognize Kosovo's independence. Ankara is aware of tensions in the Western Balkans regarding ethnic conflicts. We should not forget that we live in such times in this cold war between the West, meaning the US and the EU, and on the other side Russia, and China, where there is no direct confrontation between superpowers but conflicts are played out through other flashpoints like the Western Balkans," the professor says.

Our interlocutor also notes that Turkey has good relations with Serbia and that Ankara has "Western tools" at its disposal, such as NATO membership.

"Indeed, Turkey is Kosovo's main security provider, not only through arms sales but also through participation in and support for KFOR. It can also play a diplomatic buffer role between Serbia and Kosovo," she notes.

Regarding recent events, such as the ban on the dinar, which led to criticism of Pristina from the US and EU, Korkmaz mentions that she understands Washington's and Brussels' positions, as they do not want new crises in the region.

"On one hand, I understand the perspective of the Kosovo government, which wants to assert sovereignty over the entire territory. However, in the Western Balkans region, there are vivid memories of war, of former Yugoslavia, civil wars, and internal conflicts between different ethnic groups. So, such steps can provoke or create an atmosphere for provocation, and in that sense, I can understand the US and Western views because they don't want to see more crises. The war in Ukraine started small but continued and today, it has been almost three years, and no one knows what to expect in the next phase. Now, however, we know that Russia was not defeated, although there are different views in the West on the situation. So, no one wants to see other conflicts where Russia would get involved, which is why Western actors have different views on Kosovo's actions," she says.

She also highlights that Kosovo recently bought drones from Turkey.

"Turkey is one of Kosovo's main suppliers in terms of security. It provides soldiers for KFOR, the Kosovo government bought drones from Ankara, which supports Kosovo's sovereignty and territorial integrity, which is more important than arming. This support is especially crucial because we don't know who the next US president will be, we don't know what Trump will do if he wins, and what his policy towards the Western Balkans will be. It is not just about isolation but also about withdrawing from certain security commitments. Kosovo will always be a close ally of Turkey. Ankara's position will always be to support stability and security in Kosovo. A peaceful resolution of the conflict between Kosovo and Serbia is something Turkey supports," Korkmaz says.

Regarding relations between Serbia and Turkey, Korkmaz emphasizes that they are good.

"Arming Kosovo's security forces by Turkey is not directed against Serbia. We have good relations with Serbia, which is an important player in the region, especially in terms of the economy and even the security sector. Turkey can and does act as a good balance in the Western Balkans and always tries to preserve peace in the region. Turkey is a regional power and wants to play that role. The dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia is where Turkey can play an active role," she says.

According to our interlocutor, Erdogan had a closer relationship with Thaci than with Kurti now, but personal relationships do not affect cooperation between Pristina and Ankara.

"Erdogan had fraternal relations with Thaci, but I don't think personal connections are decisive for state relations. Kosovo and Bosnia are two important points for Turkey, military and economic cooperation is visible, and Turkey has historical and cultural ties with these countries. We have many Albanians from Kosovo living with us, and we are connected to each other, so we understand each other well," she notes.

Asked about how she sees the end of the dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade, she mentions that the EU could play a more positive role, and discussions about the membership of Western Balkan countries intensified only after the start of the Ukrainian crisis.

"Turkey's position is clear – stability in the region, Kosovo's independence, and ensuring long-term peace through dialogue. Turkey and Serbia do not agree on Kosovo, Belgrade has its view, but at the same time, it wants good relations with Ankara. In any case, Serbia must take into account Turkey's reaction to the question of stability in the Western Balkans," Korkmaz says.