NATO pledges commitment to Western Balkans

“The Western Balkans and the Black Sea regions are of strategic importance for the Alliance. We remain strongly committed to their security and stability,” the declaration by the heads of state and government said.

“We will continue to enhance our political dialogue and practical cooperation with the Western Balkans in order to support reforms, regional peace and security, and counter malign influence, including disinformation, hybrid, and cyber threats, posed by both state and non-state actors,” the declaration added.

It said that democratic values, the rule of law, domestic reforms, and good neighbor relations are vital for regional cooperation and Euro-Atlantic integration, adding that the NATO leaders “look to continued progress in this regard”.

“We remain committed to NATO’s continued engagement in the Western Balkans, including through the NATO-led Kosovo Force (KFOR),” the declaration said and added that NATO will monitor and assess development and enhance its situational awareness with focus on security threats and opportunities for closer cooperation with partners.