Looks like Russia isn’t giving up its dirty tricks in the Western Balkans! Croatian Foreign Minister Gordan Grlić Radman is sounding the alarm on Russia’s destabilizing activities and hybrid threats in the region. While Russia might not be a direct military threat to Croatia, its aggressive ambitions and hybrid tactics clearly endanger European security.
Croatia has already felt the heat – from illegal intelligence operations to a surge in cyberattacks. Moscow even slapped Croatia on its so-called list of hostile countries and expelled several Russian diplomats. But wait, there’s more! Russian propaganda through media outlets in Serbia is spreading anti-Western and anti-Croatian messages, pushing a pro-Russian agenda and the idea of the “Russian world,” which, according to Grlić Radman, overlaps with the Serbian world and aims to expand Serbia’s political influence over neighboring countries with Serbian populations.
Croatia stands fully in solidarity with countries directly threatened by Russia. While hoping hybrid threats like disinformation and cyberattacks remain a problem, it’s clear this will be a long fight. And what about the US? Grlić Radman emphasizes that the US remains a key strategic partner for Croatia and Europe, even under President Donald Trump.
So, while Russia tries to block the Western Balkans’ path to the West, Croatia and its allies aren’t backing down. This is a real battle for influence, and we’re on the front lines! Got thoughts on Russia meddling in our backyard? Drop a comment below – let’s see who’s on which side of this geopolitical soap opera!
