Russia's Influence in Balkan Countries Surpasses US and EU?

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - The US and EU have long held primacy when it comes to international influence in the region's countries, primarily in BiH and Croatia. However, this has recently begun to change at an accelerated pace, with Russia somehow coming to the forefront.

Russia previously held a leading role in Serbia, and for a time in Montenegro and Macedonia, while in the last two or three years, Russia has emerged as a significant player in BiH and Croatia.   

Many analysts believe that Russia has even taken the leading role from the US in some areas.

When it comes to Serbia, the official policy of Serbia and President Aleksandar Vučić is good relations with everyone: the EU, the US, and Russia. However, whenever a matter of key interest comes up, Serbia tries not to harm Russia's interests.

Until joining the EU, Croatia was fully committed to Europe and the US, but after achieving its goal of joining the EU, and after a change of government, Croatia turned completely to the right, and Russia has largely replaced the EU in Croatia.

Russia has recently almost completely dominated Croatia's economic space through Croatia's largest business chain, Agrokor, controlling it through its banks, primarily Sberbank.

Political analysts in Croatia go so far that some even claim that the country's president, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, is a trusted person of Russian President Vladimir Putin, and that the Russians asked the Croatian president to try to influence Prime Minister Andrej Plenković in some way, because he is too pro-European.

Russia was present in Macedonia for a long time, but with the change of government and the arrival of Zoran Zaev, a pro-European figure, as prime minister, Russia lost its influence.

A similar scenario occurred in Montenegro. In Podgorica, there was even an attempted coup d'état through the opposition, which is heavily influenced by Russia, but Montenegro emerged victorious from that contest.

With Montenegro's entry into NATO, Russia was forced to turn to other countries where it would try to exert its influence.

Now it is BiH's turn, where Russia, through its man Milorad Dodik, who does not hide that he is a Russian man, and recently through the president of HDZ, Dragan Čović, is trying to exert its influence.

Russia openly opposes BiH's entry into NATO, so after losing the political contest in Macedonia and Montenegro, it is turning all its resources to BiH. All this with the help of Serbia and Croatia, and its people within BiH; Milorad Dodik and Dragan Čović.