1998. Serbia. Ethnic Cleansing.
"Kosovo massacres by Serbs on Albanians 1998-1999. Source and researched by Pandion Research" by Norascije under CC BY-SA 4.0
The history of NATO, Serbia, and Russia is complex and multifaceted, with events spanning over several decades. In the early 1990s, Yugoslavia began to disintegrate, leading to conflicts between various ethnic groups. NATO intervened in the Bosnian War in 1995, aiming to end the violence and establish a peace agreement. However, tensions continued to rise, and NATO conducted airstrikes against Serbian forces in Kosovo in 1999 to stop the repression of Albanian Kosovars. This move sparked controversy, with Russia vehemently opposing the NATO intervention and accusing it of overstepping its bounds.
The Kosovo War ended with the signing of the Kumanovo Agreement, which put an end to the hostilities and established the UN-administered province of Kosovo. However, tensions between Serbia and Kosovo persisted, with Serbia viewing Kosovo as its Jerusalem and opposing its independence. Russia has also consistently opposed Kosovo's independence and supported Serbia's territorial integrity.
In recent years, Russia's influence in the Balkans, particularly in Serbia, has been a subject of discussion. The Kremlin has denied stoking tensions in Kosovo and has backed Serbia's position on the matter. Russian media has used the 1999 NATO bombing to highlight its opposition to Western intervention in conflicts, such as the 2014 annexation of Crimea.
Serbia's relationship with both Russia and NATO has been complex. While the country maintains close ties with Russia and shares historical and cultural ties, it also seeks to join the European Union and has participated in NATO-led operations. However, there are concerns that Serbia's hedging of its bets between Russia and the EU could create instability in the region.
Overall, the relationship between NATO, Serbia, and Russia has been marked by conflict, controversy, and ongoing tensions. The legacy of the Kosovo War and the events surrounding it continue to shape the geopolitical landscape of the Balkans, with Serbia and Russia continuing to oppose Kosovo's independence and NATO's intervention.