Overview

When the North Atlantic Trade Organization’s (NATO’s) military intervention ended a violent conflict in the erstwhile Yugoslavia, the geopolitical structure of the Balkan Peninsula witnessed several changes, and they became more apparent following the turn of the century. Kosovo's declaration of independence from Serbia in 2008, further altered the strategic realities of the space. As a landlocked nation in Southeast Europe, in the Western Balkans (WB), Kosovo occupies a central position in the sub-region, and it has exhibited aspirations for further European integration, apparent in its bid for the Council of Europe and alignment with NATO. The European Union, has likewise deemed the territory as a part of the “enlargement countries,” alongside many of its neighbors who currently stand apart from the EU. In the midst of prolonged tensions, Kosovo’s resilience has been noted in ...