The Western Balkans - US Influence, Hungarian Interests, and the Future of the Region’s EU-Integration

What happens when national history, great-power rivalry, and EU enlargement fatigue collide? In The Western Balkans – US Influence, Hungarian Interests, and the Future of the Region’s EU-Integration, Dr. Bernd Christoph Ströhm offers a compelling deep dive into the evolving political and economic landscape of Southeastern Europe.

This expert analysis untangles the multilayered dynamics driving the region's uncertain path toward EU membership. Ströhm explores Hungary’s growing assertiveness, grounded in historical memory and strategic calculation, as well as the shifting role of the United States, particularly under the Trump administration's 'America First' foreign policy. This paper illuminates how economic interests, migration pressures, minority politics and regional instability are leveraged by both Washington and Budapest in pursuit of broader geopolitical goals.

Drawing on policy documents, macroeconomic data and a wealth of political insight, Ströhm unpacks issues ranging from the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue and Bosnia’s Dayton dilemma to Hungary’s dual role as both EU member and regional power broker. He also examines the ripple effects of US trade tariffs and the mounting influence of China and Russia as the EU struggles to maintain momentum.

This is essential reading for academics, policymakers, diplomats and anyone concerned with the future of Europe’s most strategically sensitive region.