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Subcommittee hearing flags instability in the Western Balkans, debate over Kosovo and Bosnia
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Summary
Members and witnesses warned about persistent instability in Bosnia and Herzegovina and renewed calls to support Kosovo's European integration and NATO path; panelists urged strengthening KFOR and leveraging EU and U.S. diplomatic pressure on Serbia and Republika Srpska leaders.
Chairman Self raised the Western Balkans as “one of the most unstable areas of NATO” and asked witnesses whether admitting Kosovo to NATO would help stabilize the region.
Why it matters: The Western Balkans includes states and territories with unresolved political disputes that NATO and the EU view as potential flashpoints. Committee members tied regional instability to Russian influence and recommended combined diplomatic, security and integration measures.
Dr. Niall Gardner and Rear Admiral Mark Montgomery both described the region as volatile. Gardner said the current political arrangements in Bosnia and Herzegovina contribute to instability and emphasized the need for “restoration for sovereignty and self determination.” Montgomery characterized Serbian President Aleksandar Vu—0di—07 and Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik as “bad actors” and urged robust support for KFOR, NATO’s Kosovo Force, and for advancing Kosovo's path to European integration.
Members and witnesses noted obstacles to formal NATO accession for Kosovo, including opposition from some NATO members. Montgomery urged U.S. diplomatic pressure on holdout countries and said Washington should push European partners to facilitate Kosovo's integration into EU and NATO structures. Several legislators also raised the unexecuted arrest warrant for Dodik and expressed concern that failure to hold leaders accountable could increase the risk of a broader conflict.
The hearing recorded discussion and recommendations but no formal committee actions or votes. Witnesses called for a combined approach: sustain KFOR manpower and equipment, press for EU and NATO integration paths for Kosovo, and maintain U.S. diplomatic and, where appropriate, economic levers to counter malign influence.
