Misini: The U.S. wants an integrated Western Balkans, and the region should seize the opportunity

Economics professor Shkumbin Misini believes that the United States has an interest in steering the countries of the Western Balkans, including Serbia, toward regional integration processes, describing this as Washington's primary objective.

"The United States has an interest in seeing the countries of the Western Balkans orient themselves toward integration processes, which is its main objective. The countries of the Western Balkans, including Serbia, have geostrategic interests in cooperating with the world's most powerful countries in order to improve their economic situation," Misini told Kosovo Online.

He added that it remains to be seen whether a concrete strategic plan will emerge in the future, recalling that Jared Kushner had expressed interest in investing in Serbia some time ago.

Speaking about European integration, Misini argued that the Western Balkans should become part of the European Union as soon as possible.

"The countries of the Western Balkans must realize that they should integrate into the European Union as soon as possible, so they do not fall into the trap of Balkan political elites, whose interest is to engage in corruption for their own benefit rather than to promote the social and economic well-being of their peoples. The sooner these countries join the EU, the sooner and better their prospects will become, because the well-being of their citizens will improve," Misini said.

He stressed that future developments will also depend on broader geopolitical trends but argued that the countries of the region should cooperate and move forward together.

"It remains to be seen how geopolitical developments around the world will unfold, as our region is subject to a variety of external influences. It would be beneficial if the countries of the Western Balkans advanced toward integration together, without conflict, jealousy, or hatred, and focused on moving forward for the economic benefit of their citizens, rather than being led by Balkan politicians whose primary interests are power and personal enrichment," Misini concluded.