As Balkan tensions spike, Chinese dragon raises its head

The recent spike in tensions in northern Kosovo, where dozens of NATO peacekeepers were injured in attacks by ethnic Serbs during protests against the appointment of ethnic Albanian mayors, serves as a painful reminder that the deep-rooted conflict in the heart of the Balkans cannot be easily resolved. Despite the efforts and strong pressure from Western powers, including the EU and the US, the path to normalizing relations between Serbs and Albanians will be long and marked by periodic nationalist outbursts. The divide between the two sides runs deep, fueled by a history of bloodshed and entrenched animosity, perpetuated by ongoing conflicts in the region.

The ongoing conflicts in the Serb-dominated northern part of Kosovo have raised concerns among major geopolitical players in the region, such as the USA, Germany, France, Italy and Russia, all of whom have significant...