Istanbul – Jan. 23 – Balkan nations signaled a renewed commitment to regional stability today, convening the second meeting of the Balkans Peace Platform under the leadership of Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.The gathering, which included the Foreign Ministers of Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, montenegro, Kosovo, North Macedonia and Serbia, underscored a collective desire to navigate a complex geopolitical landscape through dialog and cooperation.
A Fragile Peace, Firmly in Focus
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Regional leaders are prioritizing diplomacy amid persistent tensions and evolving global challenges.
- The Balkans Peace Platform aims to complement existing international efforts, not replace them.
- Türkiye is positioning itself as a facilitator, fostering regional ownership of peace processes.
- Economic integration, energy cooperation, and border security were key discussion points.
- Despite a turbulent 2025, the region avoided major conflict through a combination of internal and external factors.
The pursuit of peace in the Balkans isn’t a new endeavor, but the renewed emphasis on regional ownership-the idea that lasting stability must be built *by* the Balkan states themselves-marks a meaningful shift. Türkiye, under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, is actively championing this approach, offering itself as a bridge between competing interests and a facilitator of constructive dialogue.
Though, the path to lasting peace remains fraught with challenges. Notably the unresolved dispute between Kosovo and Serbia and ongoing political sensitivities between Bosnia-Herzegovina and Serbia. Thes issues place Belgrade at the center of regional security concerns, making its policy choices crucial for maintaining stability.
Interestingly, Serbia’s participation in platforms like the Balkans Peace Platform isn’t simply a response to external pressure. Belgrade appears to be adopting a more pragmatic assessment of its own long-term interests, recognizing that its stability and prosperity are increasingly intertwined with those of its neighbors.
Regional Ownership
At the heart of Türkiye’s Balkan policy lies the principle of regional ownership: the belief that lasting peace must be shaped and sustained by the region itself. This translates into policies that foster tangible interdependencies, particularly in infrastructure, transportation, and energy connectivity.
The Belgrade-Sarajevo Highway Project exemplifies this strategy. Actively supported by Türkiye, the project serves as both a strategic infrastructure investment and a confidence-building measure, physically connecting Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina while symbolically bridging political divides. It’s a clear exhibition of Türkiye’s vision of infrastructure as a tool for reconciliation and long-term cohesion.
Visa Dispute with Montenegro
Regional cooperation isn’t solely a matter of principle; it’s a strategic imperative. The 2025 visa dispute between Türkiye and Montenegro highlighted the vulnerabilities that arise when regional ties aren’t anchored in robust economic and political interdependence.Montenegro’s decision to impose visa requirements on Turkish citizens, citing alignment with EU migration and security standards, underscored the limits of goodwill in the absence of deeper cooperation.
While economic considerations ultimately limited the impact of the decision, the episode revealed a broader reality: Balkan states constantly balance regional partnerships against external incentives. Türkiye’s influence, therefore, increasingly depends on the depth of economic, infrastructural, and institutional ties that secure mutual interests beyond short-term political calculations.
In this context, the Balkans Peace Platform and similar initiatives become strategically relevant, functioning as tools to embed Türkiye’s interests within regional structures, enhance its leverage, and manage risks from competing external pressures. Sustained interdependence, it truly seems, is not only a foundation for regional stability but also a necessary condition for safeguarding Türkiye’s long-term interests in the Balkans.
