Why It Matters

Congress is examining a region slipping from U.S. strategic focus at a critical moment. The House Subcommittee on Europe will hold a hearing on U.S. policy in the Western Balkans on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, as the Trump administration has drawn criticism for uneven responses to illiberal actors in the region and left key diplomatic posts unfilled.

The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 reinforces a heightened focus on countering malign Russian and Chinese influence in the Western Balkans, signaling that Congress views the region as strategically important even as the administration appears to be pulling back. The timing reflects broader concerns about U.S. commitment to Europe outlined in the 2025 National Security Strategy.

Daniel Lawton from the U.S. Department of State is scheduled to testify. Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL-21) chairs the full Foreign Affairs Committee, while Rep. Bill Keating (D-MA-9) is the ranking member of the Europe Subcommittee.

The Big Picture

The Western Balkans comprise six countries: Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia. Three of them—Albania, Montenegro, and North Macedonia—are now full NATO members advancing more rapidly in European integration and defense modernization. At the same time, the region is experiencing large-scale militarization on the Adriatic coast and growing integration into NATO's defense system. The U.S. Treasury lifted sanctions on Milorad Dodik, Republika Srpska's former leader and his associates, a move that drew criticism given Dodik's long history of threatening secession from Bosnia and Herzegovina. Ratko Mladić, a convicted war criminal, died around August 27–28, 2026. Washington has been vocal about pulling back its security commitments in the Western Balkans and shifting more responsibility to Europe. Diplomatic posts in the region remain unfilled under the current administration. The State Department's language preserves support for regional stability, Serbia-Kosovo normalization, NATO coordination, and containment of Russian and Chinese influence. The Subcommittee on Europe, Foreign Affairs Committee will convene at 2:00 PM on September 15, 2026.

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