New and Aspiring NATO Members in the Balkans Benefit from Additional Resources and Strengthened Regional Security, but Challenges Emerge

For several new member states, NATO has been a source of positive reform in the defense and security sectors. The participants discussed the experience of other NATO members in the broader region, especially Bulgaria, which has been a member since 2004. In Bulgaria, NATO membership served as a turning point for the country from a somewhat archaic model of defense. NATO membership also allowed a country that previously had little international presence to be integrated into global politics. Perhaps most importantly, experts noted that Bulgaria also enjoyed increased internal stability following NATO membership, which has led to less corruption in the government. North Macedonia, the most recent member of NATO, has also seen improvements in accountability and reduced government corruption, but the durability and continuation of these changes is in question given how recently the country joined. Overall, most believe that greater internal stability allows for stronger regional cooperation, and it was agreed that NATO should continue to promote this goal.

Representatives also discussed how NATO membership does not only potentially benefit nations that join the alliance. The Partnership for Peace program allows for members and non-members alike to both consume and provide security for the region as a whole, while striving to respect the needs of each individual country and how much they hope to contribute. It was highlighted that Serbia, despite having no desire to become a member state, has still been a proactive participant in the PfP program. This contributes to one of NATO’s central goals in this region: promoting dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade and reaching a settlement, thereby achieving long-lasting stability. Participants also acknowledged that NATO presence in the region can help offset the increasing influence of populism and Russian propaganda in Serbia, even if it is not a member itself.

Many also brought up the numerous challenges and setbacks that have come with NATO membership. Experts noted how Croatia has faced difficulty with NATO plans that more commonly appear on paper than in practice. Albanian experts reiterated similar issues, who demonstrated how the military is still not under democratic control since joining NATO. Critics also pointed out that NATO is unable to deal with internal security conflicts, limiting their overall influence providing security when compared to the EU. Individual nations still follow their own agendas first, which some argued has led to stalled regional cooperation and has mitigated NATO’s influence. 

Finally, participants discussed how NATO can provide resources during times of crisis. During the ongoing covid-19 pandemic, NATO’s dispersion of medical personnel and equipment to nations that needed it was noted, as well as plans to prepare for the potential of a second wave. Newest member North Macedonia hopes to benefit from NATO’s resources in times of crisis in the future, as they found that their army alone was not sufficient help during the pandemic. The 2014 floods in Bosnia and Herzegovina were also highlighted as a natural crisis wherein the nation would have benefited from an added NATO response, as the country continues to pursue NATO membership.