Kasanof replaced Gabriel Escobar, whose term ended in late May. When asked if he will remain in his position after 20 January, when Trump's administration takes office, Kasanof declined to speculate. However, he said he would work diligently until his last day to ensure the region progresses on all fronts and to leave his potential successor in the best possible situation.

“I would point out that there has been a tremendous amount of continuity in our policy regarding the Balkans for the last 30 years and I would expect that that continuity will continue in terms of the basic goals that we have for this region,” said the deputy assistant secretary of state for Europe, responsible for the Balkans and public diplomacy.

Kasanof visited Zagreb to “express Washington’s deep satisfaction and happiness with the very strong bilateral relationship that we have with Croatia,” a country he said “has a leadership role in this region.”

“Insidious” Russian influence

Kasanof previously served as a political advisor at the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv during the revolution known as Euromaidan.

He views the war in Ukraine as a “critical moment for European security” and adds that Russia’s aggression has already undermined international law and order.

The U.S. is also concerned about Russian influence in the region and is working with Western Balkan countries to counter disinformation, he said. Russian influence is “equally insidious” across all the countries in the region and globally, so states must remain “vigilant.”

Kasanof said Washington sees a great possibility for “real and substantial progress” in the Euro-Atlantic integration of the Western Balkan countries.

He highlighted the EU’s €6 billion Growth Plan for the region, conditional on implementing reforms. “With this plan come real benefits that the people of all these countries can feel,” he said, but warned that “this is not a period that will last forever,” urging the region to seize the current momentum.

“The goal here ultimately is to ensure that this region moves beyond the legacy of the wars of the 1990s and really is able to turn the page on the evils of ethno-nationalism,” he stressed.

Working against Dayton is unacceptable

Regarding Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kasanof said the U.S.’s “top goal” is to “support the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and multiethnic character” of the country.

Washington “will use all tools at our disposal, including sanctions,” against those who “work against those purposes, openly espouse secession, and flout the Dayton Agreement,” he said, referring to the BiH Presidency's Serb member Milorad Dodik.

“We'll not take it lying down,” he said, adding that Washington is “watching (the situation) very carefully”.

Dodik’s policies are not only harmful to BiH’s security but also to the residents of its Serb entity of Republika Srpska, as they block reforms needed to unlock funds from the EU Growth Plan, which would primarily benefit people in that entity.

“He is in effect blocking assistance… that could go the people who live in Republika Srpska… That is not only terribly misguided, it is a dangerous path.”

Kasanof said the U.S. considers Serbia’s European path “natural” and that Washington clearly communicates its concerns to Belgrade on this path, stressing the advantages of closer association with Europe while pointing out areas where Russian actions harm the country.