List of Balkans articles
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A few protesters are seen at night as they wave flags and hands in a public square strewn with litter and obscured by a haze of smoke. One red and white Turkish flag billows through the smoke. On the far side of the clear area is a line of dozens of riot police officers in helmets and holding clear riot shields. Erdogan Risks Overplaying His Hand
The increasingly repressive Turkish leader can’t rely on the military’s loyalty.
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A Kurdish youth holds a flag depicting Abdullah Ocalan, the jailed leader of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, during Newroz celebrations in Diyarbakir, Turkey, on March 21. Are the Kurds at a Political Turning Point?
Recent thaws in Turkey and Syria show that Kurds are no longer an isolated force.
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Anti-Trump demonstrators rally outside the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., on July 1, 2024. Trump vs. the Courts: Lessons From the World
Leaders have clashed with the judiciary in Brazil, Israel, Hungary, and Turkey. Here’s how that turned out.
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Protesters wave Turkish flags in front of the New Mosque in Istanbul on March 25. Erdogan Is Trying to Divide and Conquer Turkey’s Opposition
By arresting his chief rival and splitting the left, Turkey’s president is seeking to create a pliant and palatable CHP that ensures the AKP’s long-term dominance.
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NATO Deputy Secretary-General Radmila Shekerinska, left, speaks with Slovenian Minister of Foreign Affairs Tanja Fajon before the start of the first meeting of the North Atlantic Council in Foreign Ministers at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. The Western Balkans’ Emerging Voice in NATO
Radmila Shekerinska offers North Macedonia a chance to shape NATO’s strategic direction from within.
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Officials including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping attend a plenary session at the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia, on Oct. 24, 2024. Will Trump’s Unpredictable Foreign Policy Boost BRICS?
If Turkey and Saudi Arabia follow Indonesia in joining the bloc, it could gain more geopolitical heft.
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A crowd is standing, with several people on their phones. In the center are two people holding the Serbian flag. Serbia’s Protests Are Dismantling Vucic’s Grip on Power
Students in Serbia have already proven their ability to challenge the status quo and resist an autocratic system.
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A woman holds a baby to her chest as she and others cover their ears and run from a blast on a street. The Long Arm of Turkey’s Global Media Censorship
Few countries have been as relentless in their efforts to silence discussions of the past in foreign film and TV.
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A fighter from the Syrian Democratic Forces stands guard in al-Hasakah, Syria, on Jan. 31. What Does the SDF Deal Mean for U.S. Counterterrorism in Syria?
The U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces have agreed to merge with Damascus’s new government.
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A crowd of hundreds of protesters is seen from overhead. Most participants are dressed for the cold in heavy coats, hats, and gloves, and many wave Serbian flags or picket signs. Street Protests Aren’t Enough to Transform Serbia
To topple Vucic, student activists must look to the ballot box.
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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks during a rally organized by his Justice and Development Party. Is Turkey Breaking Its Own Oil Embargo?
As Erdogan champions the Palestinian cause, evidence suggests that his regime is facilitating support for Israel.
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A person in a blue apron illuminates a table using the flashlight from their phone. In the foreground, another person wearing a cap buys food. Russia Is Spinning Up a New Barrage of Lies in Europe
European officials are in a long battle against disinformation.
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Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic (left) at a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump (right). What Does Trump’s Return Mean for the Balkans?
While many in the region fear a tilt toward Serb nationalists, the new administration’s transactionalism could surprise everyone.
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U.S. Vice President Joe Biden speaks during a joint press conference with Kurdish Regional Government President Masoud Barzani in Erbil, Iraq, on Sept. 17, 2009. Why Kurds Are Disappointed by Biden’s Legacy
Biden’s pro-Kurdish track record in the Senate and vice presidency didn’t extend to his time in the White House.
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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan walks on stage to address supporters during a campaign rally on May 26, 2023 in Istanbul. Turkey Hasn’t Won Anything Yet in Syria
It’s too early to celebrate Assad’s departure as Erdogan’s victory.
