By Dr. Sinem Cengiz
Since the breakup of the former Yugoslavia, the Balkan region has been a priority for Turkiye because of its geopolitical proximity and historical and cultural ties. Through its economic and political influence, Turkiye has placed the region within its area of particular interest. As a result, relations with Balkan states have begun to occupy an important place in Ankara’s foreign policy agenda. Since this region’s history has been marked by conflict, fragmentation and chronic instability, Turkiye maintains a calculated and balanced policy toward each Balkan country.
As part of this policy, Turkiye has launched a diplomatic initiative, the Balkan Peace Platform, which held its second meeting in Istanbul last month. The meeting brought together the foreign ministers of Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo, North Macedonia and Serbia. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said that the platform has quickly become an important mechanism for deepening dialogue, emphasizing Turkiye’s role as a unifying actor.
While global attention is often focused on regional developments from Gaza to Iran and from Sudan to Yemen, the Balkan region may not appear to be a priority for many. However, despite being a peripheral region, the Balkans has become an arena where several actors, including Turkiye, Israel, Iran, Russia and the Western powers, seek to expand their sphere of influence. Each of these actors has different motivations toward the region, which connects Europe, the Middle East, the Mediterranean and the Black Sea.
In recent years, with increasing tensions due to the Gaza war and Iran-Israel conflict, the Balkan states have been gaining prominence. For instance, Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani was among the leaders of 20 countries who signed up to the US-led Board of Peace. Meanwhile, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama was last month received at the Israeli Knesset, meeting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. A few days later, Netanyahu received Republika Srpska President Ana Trisic-Babic and former President Milorad Dodik.
Since the Gaza war erupted, Israel has been trying to forge closer ties with the Balkan states. Israeli President Isaac Herzog has paid historic visits to Albania and Serbia. Israel is particularly trying to gain impetus in the Balkans by expanding its military and economic ties. Tel Aviv’s defense partnership with Serbia has paved the way for Israel’s growing footprint in the region. In addition to defense ties, Israel sees the Balkans as a space useful for intelligence purposes against its opponents in the region, particularly Turkiye.
It is no coincidence that as Turkish-Israeli relations have worsened due to the Gaza war, Israel has been using its lobbying power in the West to influence Balkan states that need Western backing. Israel’s outreach comes at a time when it faces international isolation due to the Gaza conflict. Although the Balkan region might be seen as Europe’s periphery, Israel aims to build legitimacy by showcasing to the world that its leaders can still travel abroad and receive other leaders in their offices.
For leaders of small and fragile Balkan states, hosting international dignitaries or participating in global treaties can be seen as an opportunity to enhance their international standing. However, it is also important for them to align with the “right side of history,” since it is clear that, with so few leaders — even in Europe — willing to meet Netanyahu, receiving or visiting him will bring no tangible gain.
The Balkan states’ stance toward Israel and its war in Gaza has been varied. Albania established diplomatic relations with Israel only after the fall of its communist regime in 1991. Before that, Tirana supported the Palestine Liberation Organization. However, as US influence in Albania increased after 1991, political support for the Palestinians diminished. Today, Albania is strongly allied with Israel, believing that closer relations can boost its influence with the White House.
While Serbia has provided humanitarian aid to Gaza, it also supplied arms to Israel — deliveries that President Aleksandar Vucic halted after Israel attacked Iran last year. Since then, Serbia has been pursuing a cautious policy, concerned over a potential spillover of the Iran-Israel conflict to the Balkans. Meanwhile, Montenegro and North Macedonia have adopted a low-profile diplomatic stance.
Kosovo, the only Balkan state to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and open an embassy there, has been trying to be part of the Gaza peace efforts, as seen in its role as one of the signatories of the Board of Peace. Bosnia-Herzegovina is deeply divided due to its internal political structure. While Bosniak political forces are pro-Palestinian and sympathetic toward Turkiye, Bosnian Serb leaders are vocal in supporting Israel, as seen from their leaders’ visit to the country.
Turkiye has long sought to prevent external actors from using the Balkans to advance their own agendas. In the past, Ankara opposed Iranian and Russian influence in the region. Today, Israel has emerged as another actor attempting to leverage Balkan dynamics for its destabilizing objectives in the Middle East. While Israel lacks the capacity to establish a strong presence in the Balkans, it will likely exploit any opportunity to minimize support for the Palestinian cause and gain allies against Ankara.
Turkiye already enjoys strong political ties with Balkan states, built on shared culture and history, and can further deepen these partnerships. The Balkan Peace Platform is an excellent initiative in this regard. Ankara can also leverage its position within NATO, especially with Balkan members of the alliance, to encourage regional states to pursue balanced foreign policies regarding Middle East issues and reduce Israel’s leverage in this area
Dr. Sinem Cengiz is a Turkish political analyst who specializes in Turkiye’s relations with the Middle East. X: @SinemCngz