Europe needs new security structure; Serbia given six months to align with EU

As the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East intensify, Europe faces an urgent need for unity and a new security architecture. The European Union is pressing candidate countries to adopt a unified security vision, raising questions about the place of the Western Balkans and Serbia within this framework.

Dr. Mihajlo Kopanja from the Faculty of Security notes the difficulty in stopping the war in Iran, describing a stalemate where neither side can withdraw without significant loss of prestige. He believes this situation makes further escalation inevitable, leaving Europe outside the immediate conflict.

Srdjan Cvijić of the Belgrade Centre for Security Policy suggests Europe learned from the 2003 Iraq War and is unlikely to join a potential U.S. conflict in Iran. He points out that a majority of Americans also oppose such action, viewing the U.S. as Israel's pawn.

Kopanja observes that Europe's reaction to potential U.S. actions against Iran surprised some, noting tensions within NATO as the U.S. seeks to share the burden. He suggests the U.S. may have tried to create a security dilemma in Europe through various signals, hoping to shift NATO responsibilities. However, Europe's rejection of war in Iran could be seen as a response to this pressure. Europe also has a growing interest in keeping the Strait of Hormuz open for oil, especially with supply disruptions from the Ukraine war.

Cvijić states that clear messages have been sent to Serbia regarding its foreign and security policy. Citing public statements from Chancellor Scholz and bilateral meetings with leaders like Macron and von der Leyen, he emphasizes that Serbia can no longer balance its positions. Serbia must align with the EU's foreign and security policy, which includes imposing sanctions on Russia and visa requirements for Russian citizens.