One set of standards for the Balkans or two? That is a looming question for U.S. President Joe Biden as he meets NATO allies and European Union partners next week in Brussels.
The administration this week expanded an executive order tackling corruption in the Balkans, as well as obstruction to the region’s peace agreements, democratic processes, and human rights. Going beyond legalisms, Biden was unsparing about the risks of corruption, noting that it “open[s] the door for our strategic adversaries.” Secretary of State Antony Blinken affirmed the administration’s “unwavering” determination to win this fight.
