Letter from Washington: Buying Friends and Finding Common Foes
As Milorad Dodik comes in from the cold, Albanians impress on Trump that they have an enemy in common. KAYNAK: Balkan Insight
Democracy Digest: Orban Goes to Washington and Receives Trump’s Endorsement
Elsewhere, Slovakia and Hungary blame Ukraine for lack of oil through pipeline apparently bombed by Russia; Polish bishop becomes first to stand trial over alleged failure to report sexual abuse;…
Russian Despatch: Moscow is Losing Its Energy Grip on the Balkans
In the first of his monthly despatches on Russian-Balkan relations, Maksim Samorukov assesses the impact of the sell-off of Gazprom and Lukoil’s businesses on Moscow’s interests and influence in the…
North Macedonia and US Agree Framework of Deal on Reciprocal Tariffs
North Macedonia hails framework trade deal with US, aimed at easing the effects of the high tariffs that the Trump administration imposed last year. KAYNAK: Balkan Insight
Democracy Digest: Brussels Takes Hungary, Slovakia to Task
Elsewhere, Slovakia’s top court suspends part of amendment to the Criminal Code; Rubio to visit Slovakia then Hungary; Czech PM inclined to back ban on social media for under 15s;…
Democracy Digest: Poland to Probe Possible Epstein Links to Russian Intelligence
Elsewhere, Hungary government pushes Budapest to brink of bankruptcy; reports suggest Czech PM’s conflicts of interest not quite resolved; Tusk makes Ukraine trip in show of Polish support; and Slovak…
Democracy Digest: Slovak PM Denies Describing Trump as ‘Dangerous’
Elsewhere, Hungarian minister denies his remark about Roma cleaning toilets was racist; more objects enter Polish airspace from direction of Belarus; and Czech president leaks foreign minister’s ‘blackmail’ texts. KAYNAK:…
Letter from Washington: Trump Scores Big on Small Balkan Playing Field
Keen to show loyalty to the US president, some Balkan states signed up to Donald Trump’s contentious ‘Board of Peace’. Others, meanwhile, are looking to the US for new business…
Turkey in 2026: Turbulence at Home, Uncertainty Abroad
An intensifying crackdown on the opposition and progress in the thorny Kurdish peace process may define Turkey’s political year - but outside developments may overshadow domestic initiatives. KAYNAK: Balkan Insight
Democracy Digest: Orban Signs Up to Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’, Nawrocki prevaricates
Elsewhere, Slovak PM also gets sit-down with US president; Czech president and new government differ over military aircraft sale to Ukraine; and Tisza recruits ‘Kapitany’ of industry as its chief…