CAS SEE Seminars with Guests: Edward P. Joseph

On 18 March, Serbia and Kosovo hold the climactic meeting on the high-stakes EU proposal for a ‘path towards normalization.’  Whatever happens at the summit in Ohrid, North Macedonia, Kosovo will — still — not have a path towards NATO or EU membership.  The US-backed, EU agreement does not yield a NATO or EU path for Kosovo, until the European non-recognizers sign on.

As a result, the entire agreement between Serbia and Kosovo is left uncertain.  Serbia can continue its top priority mission of isolating Kosovo internationally by reliance on Russia (and China) at the UN and in other international organizations.  Instead of bringing Belgrade closer to the EU, the EU proposal could see Serbian President Vucic even more dependent upon President Putin to ‘defend’ Kosovo at the UN.   Johns Hopkins SAIS lecturer and senior fellow, Edward P. Joseph, elaborates his recent SAIS Review article (and his prior testimony before the UK Parliament) arguing for Ukraine’s recognition of Kosovo as the way to finally cut the Gordian Knot over Kosovo (‘The Kyiv-Kosovo Catalyst’.)  Mr. Joseph explains why the Kosovo and Ukraine cases are each linked to the overarching need to preserve the European order — and how Putin exploits the deep European divide over Kosovo.