The @HouseForeign hearings on the W. Balkans focusing on need for structural reforms in Bosnia & importance of NATO membership, democratic backsliding in Serbia, growing clout of Beijing & Moscow in the region. Alarm bells going off for reactionaries in Banja Luka & Belgrade.

All 3 experts being consulted - @madeleine, @DanielSerwer, and @JBugajskiUSA - hammering the pt re: Vucic’s Serbia becoming Russia & China’s key proxy in the region, the threat this represents to both U.S. & EU interests. Clearly urging more hardline approach by Biden admin.

Rep. Sherman explicitly asking @madeleine whether Serbia should be sanctioned (!) for its widespread Russian procurement. Albright says it’s a difficult question but that it is something should be looked at and discussed seriously. This is really a car wreck for Vucic and Dodik.

Only a few mos ago, Vucic was bragging about being gifted the keys to the White House by Trump. Now the House is debating whether Serbia should be sanctioned. Even tho it’s unlikely, it’s a stark illustration of the turn-around from Trump to Biden viz U.S. foreign policy.

Incoming Chairman stresses Biden admin must pressure EU to step up its act in W Balkans. Both he and @madeleine stress need for greater U.S.-EU coordination too; Albright calls it key “force multiplier”. Discussion turns to Bulgarian blockade of NMK; “a tragedy” says Albright.

Discussion turns to inadequacies of the Dayton constitution in Bosnia. @JBugajskiUSA stresses need for constitutional reform, echoes @DanielSerwer’s call to de-power the entities; Bugajski warns of credible threat of secession by Dodik & RS authorities.

Now @DanielSerwer calls for greater EUFOR & NATO presence in BiH, stresses locking down Brčko corridor especially important for preventing Dodik’s secession plans. But Serwer again stresses constitutional reform as the main longterm objective.

Very important point: @JBugajskiUSA notes much more attention should be paid to Russian-Chinese intelligence cooperation in undermining and challenging U.S. interests across the board.

Now @DanielSerwer stresses that viz both Bosnia & Kosovo (& Montenegro he adds) Serbia is the primary destabilizing problem & must be challenged. Notes that EU must be pressured to use financial mechanisms to force concessions from Belgrade.