InCLUDE ep. 3 - Is the Trump Administration Making It Harder for Countries in the Western Balkans to Join the EU?
InCLUDE is a podcast by the Istituto Affari Internazionali (IAI), supported by the Open Society Foundations Western Balkans. The series explores how to advance the integration of Western Balkan countries into the European Union, bringing together experts, policymakers, and civil society voices to discuss the political, economic, and strategic dimensions of EU enlargement. The podcast is created by Matteo Bonomi and Dušan Reljić, hosted by Dušan Reljić, with editing and graphics by Lorenzo Ascione.
In this third episode, Dušan Reljić is joined by journalist and political commentator Lily Lynch to discuss how the return of Donald Trump to the White House could reshape the geopolitical landscape of the Western Balkans and affect the region’s path towards European Union membership.Together, they examine whether the current US administration remains a stabilising force in the region or has instead become a source of growing uncertainty. From shifting American priorities and controversial investment projects linked to Trump-affiliated figures, to Washington’s changing approach to Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina, the conversation explores how US engagement in the region is evolving. The episode also looks at Turkey’s increasingly prominent role in the Western Balkans, particularly in the fields of security, energy, and regional diplomacy. Drawing on regional developments and broader geopolitical trends, the discussion reflects on the future of democracy, rule of law, and EU enlargement in a region shaped by rising strategic competition.