Security Challenges in South-East Europe: A Croatian Perspective
Abstract
This thesis addresses the complexity of the Croatian operational environment. There are two levels of analysis that must be examined to understand the complexity of the Croatian operational environment. The first level consists of relations among countries in the region that differ in their interpretation of the past, but more important they differ on their expectation for the future. These different points of view on problems and solutions have their roots in wars of the 1990's in former Yugoslavia, and also in deeper history. Additionally, most of countries that were founded after the dissolving of Yugoslavia are not yet members of European Union (EU) and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Although all of them have expressed the desire to become members of western alliances, only Slovenia and Croatia have reached that goal. Encircled by EU or NATO members and laden with abstruse (historical) issues, countries like Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia represent a potential security vacuum in South East Europe. The second level of analysis focuses on the rivalry between Russia and the West. The West in this case represents countries that are members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) or European Union (EU). In its attempt to regain world power status, Russia looks on NATO/EU as a threat and seeks to project its own interests in South East Europe. This combination of adversarial interests among countries in the region and the determination to stay on the present course, threatens the stability and security in South-East Europe that was recently established. An environment with a diversity of problems and a huge lack of trust is a fruitful base for creation of instability.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 10, 2016
- Accession Number
- AD1020306
Entities
People
- Mario Lukacic
Organizations
- United States Army Command and General Staff College