Maliqi: There are still high tensions in the region; Rutte stated that NATO is ready to intervene

Political analyst Shkelzen Maliqi emphasizes that during his visit to the region, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte clearly stated that the Alliance is prepared to intervene if there is an escalation or "adventurist actions." Tensions in the Western Balkans remain high, but security challenges are currently much more serious in Bosnia and Herzegovina than in Kosovo, according to Maliqi.

"It is certain that NATO is interested in sending a message to the factors in the Balkans, in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and Kosovo, that they are ready, that they can intervene if something happens or if some adventurist actions are planned because that is the geostrategic situation," Maliqi told Kosovo Online.

He assessed that the Balkans "relatively peacefully" weathered the effects of the Ukrainian crisis, while the Alliance itself is undergoing a process of "restructuring."

"NATO itself is restructuring. It is not clear whether it will remain aligned with America or not. No one can predict that, but a strategy for defending the continent is still necessary," Maliqi said.

He also notes that there are still security challenges in the Western Balkans, especially in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo.

"There are still significant tensions in the region. In Bosnia, tensions are high, and in Kosovo, the situation is also tense because it remains to be seen whether and how dialogue will continue. There are many unknowns. A few months ago, the head of the CIA was in Kosovo, and now NATO's Secretary General. I think it is heading toward stabilization, but there can always be groups or forces that will use the situation to gain some profit," Maliqi clarified.

He added that additional concern is raised by the "unpredictability" of the new US President Donald Trump, as well as the question of how unified Europe will remain.

He also believes that security challenges are currently much greater in Bosnia and Herzegovina than in Kosovo.

"The issue regarding the status of the Dayton Agreement and the ongoing condemnation of Dodik, whom they are trying to push out of the game, continues. The question is whether he has the strength to start something and how much support he has from Serbia to push for a variant of separation (of Republika Srpska). We’ll have to wait and see, but it is not as risky as it sometimes seems," Maliqi concluded.