Miskeljin: The US presidential election divided the region, Pristina put all its cards on Kamala

Marko Miskeljin, an associate at the Center for Social Stability, assessed that the US presidential election had divided the region and that Pristina had put "all its cards" on the Democratic candidate Kamala Harris.

"We could certainly observe, as with everything in our region, that the US elections were closely followed and that everyone picked a side and cheered passionately. We will see who ends up happier after Tuesday. However, what is noticeable in our public is that Donald Trump and the Republican Party enjoy significantly stronger support, while in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Democrats, especially Kamala, have the upper hand. We even saw examples like Albin Kurti, the prime minister of the temporary Pristina institutions, not only attending the convention but also taking a photo with Kamala, even trying to snap a selfie, clearly aligning with one side. As with many global events, the US elections couldn’t pass without a bit of Balkan flavor," Miskeljin noted.

According to him, a Kamala Harris victory would signify continuity in American policy toward the region.

"For those who are rooting for Kamala Harris and the Democrats, this implies maintaining the status quo, that is, continuing agreements, partnerships, and cooperation with Democratic administrations. In Croatian public opinion, it is quite evident that the narrative has largely been adopted from the mainstream media. Conversely, when it comes to perceptions and expectations in Serbia, we often find ourselves with unrealistic expectations about Donald Trump," Miskeljin emphasized.

He also highlighted that Pristina has clearly aligned itself with Kamala Harris.

"When it comes to Pristina, it is clear that they have made their choice, putting all their cards on Kamala Harris’s victory. This isn’t surprising, considering that under the Republican administration, we saw a considerably more neutral stance from the US and a stronger emphasis on practical solutions on the ground, especially regarding everyday issues affecting citizens, which is more aligned with the approach of Donald Trump and Richard Grenell when he was involved in this issue," the analyst explained.

He added that people from the region living in the US have mostly followed the political leanings of their home countries.

"When we look at the diaspora, Serbian and other regional diasporas within the US, their actions and views on the candidates often reflect these candidates' attitudes toward their home countries. As such, we can observe that the majority of Serbs support Donald Trump, while Albanian lobbies and activists generally back Kamala Harris's campaign," Miskeljin concluded.