Russia has undermined the sovereignty of Bosnia and Herzegovina and has played a destabilising role in the relationship between Kosovo and Serbia, says the National Defense Authorisation Act for the fiscal year 2021, which the US Senate Committee on Armed Services adopted.

The budget document said that the committee “remains concerned about activities of the Russian Federation that could have a destabilizing impact on the political and security environment in the U.S. European Command area of responsibility.”

“The committee notes that the Russian Federation has played a destabilizing role in the relationship between Kosovo and Serbia, undermined the sovereignty of Bosnia and Herzegovina, provided support to transnational extremist groups, and consistently worked to undermine the North Atlantic Treaty Organization alliance and European Union,” it said.

The document also noted that Russia had supported a coup attempt in Montenegro and that it was “promoting discord in North Macedonia as each country was preparing to join the NATO alliance.”

The committee directed the Secretary of Defense to provide a briefing on US European Command efforts to promote US Security cooperation with Western Balkan countries and to “reduce their dependence on Russian weapon systems” by October 30 this year.