US report to Congress: ‘Nation-building era’ in the Balkans is over

The document, titled “Report to Congress on United States Policy to Promote Regional Stability and Prosperity in the Western Balkans,” says the administration wants a “forward-looking policy” focused on partnerships, commercial engagement and countering threats affecting U.S. interests.

“The U.S.-led nation-building era has passed,” the report states. “U.S. policy in the Western Balkans is not about rescue or reconstruction, but stability and mutually beneficial partnerships.” The administration says it wants to empower local actors “to resolve their own challenges” instead of relying on prolonged international supervision.

In the section dedicated to Bosnia and Herzegovina, the United States reiterates its commitment to the Dayton Peace Agreement, as well as the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The report describes 2025 as a turning point, saying “decisive U.S. diplomacy” helped end Bosnia’s “most acute crisis since the 1992-1995 conflict,” while preserving the country’s constitutional order and legal cohesion. Washington says it now seeks to “consolidate this stability” and urges political actors in Bosnia to avoid “destabilizing and divisive actions” that could undermine economic opportunities and regional cooperation. The administration also encourages Bosnia to increase defense spending and contribute more actively to regional and global security.

Energy security features prominently in the report, with Washington warning that dependence on Russian energy remains “a strategic vulnerability in the region.”

Among the key infrastructure priorities listed is the Southern Interconnection gas pipeline linking Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The report says diversifying energy supplies through U.S. liquefied natural gas, nuclear technology and renewable energy would strengthen regional stability and prosperity. It also notes that Serbia and Bosnia signed a joint statement supporting investments aimed at increasing Europe’s secure and reliable energy supply.

The report openly frames the Western Balkans as an area of economic opportunity for the United States.

It describes the region as strategically positioned along major transport corridors and possessing natural resources, a growing technology sector and a skilled workforce.

Washington says it wants to reduce regulatory barriers, improve contract enforcement and ensure procurement systems that “favor U.S. companies.” The administration also plans to work with U.S. agencies and financial institutions to identify and advance projects beneficial to both American firms and regional economies.

The report accuses Russia and China of exploiting instability, corruption and weak governance in the region.

According to the document, Moscow fuels ethnic tensions and uses energy supplies to pressure politicians, while Beijing expands influence through loans, trade, propaganda and elite partnerships. The administration argues that stronger economies and more transparent institutions are the best defense against such influence. The report also warns that organized crime groups from the Western Balkans pose a “direct threat” to U.S. national security through links to drug trafficking, money laundering and transnational criminal networks.

In its concluding section, the administration says future U.S. engagement in the region will prioritize projects producing “clear, demonstrable benefits for American interests,” rather than long-term open-ended institution building.