NATO Defense College – ESI at NATO: The Balkans show the way forward

21 October 2025
Gerald at the NATO Defense College, Photo: NATO Defense College
Gerald at the NATO Defense College, Photo: NATO Defense College

ESI’s Gerald Knaus gave a lecture to the NATO Defense College on the topic of the Western Balkans.

Gerald began by demonstrating the toll nationalism took on Balkans, showing the audience photos of the massive damage unleashed by nationalist wars across the peninsula - an image many still have of the Balkans. Yet, Gerald noted a shift – now, there is hope again in the region. Tourism is back, economies are diversifying, and crime is low.

In this way, as Putin continues Europe’s largest war since World War II, the story of the Balkans is one worth learning. It shows the full danger of nationalism and sectarianism.  And it shows the importance of accountability and justice, with international courts set up to try the perpetrators of the worst crimes – as Gerald proposed will be necessary in Ukraine. It also shows the success of European integration, which has kept the peace in the Balkans despite ongoing tensions. Indeed, the Balkans demonstrate how European integration is fundamentally a peace project. Gerald argued that within the EU, war becomes unthinkable.

Once inside NATO, attacks become unthinkable. Inside Europe, borders become invisible.

Thus, Gerald concluded, European integration and NATO enlargement need to be strengthened and accelerated in the region. Gerald detailed his proposal that the EU offer any accession country that meets its accession standards automatic access to the Single Market and provide that country’s citizens and economy the four EU freedoms, including freedom of movement. This would incentivize countries to make the necessary changes even as debates over EU enlargement continue. Integration has worked before, Gerald concluded, and it can work again.