Roundtable on “The Balkans in the New Geopolitical Constellation” Held in Belgrade

Roundtable on “The Balkans in the New Geopolitical Constellation” Held in Belgrade

On November 10, 2026, the Center for Geopolitical Research (CeGI) hosted a roundtable entitled “The Balkans in the New Geopolitical Constellation”, bringing together distinguished experts in geopolitics and international relations. Following the opening remarks by Dr. Milomir Stepić, the participants delivered presentations addressing the geopolitical position of the Balkans amid changes in the international order, the influence of major powers, and regional security challenges. Dr. Ljubiša Despotović from the Institute for Political Studies discussed the Balkans between the geopolitical influences of Orientalism and Occidentalism, examining their historical dimensions and contemporary challenges. Dr. Veljko Blagojević from the Institute of International Politics and Economics focused on the institutionalization of defense cooperation between Zagreb, Tirana, Priština, and Ljubljana, while Dr. Dušan Proroković, also from the Institute of International Politics and Economics, examined proposals for the reconfiguration of Central Europe and their geopolitical implications for the Balkans. Dr. Vanja Glišin from the Institute for Political Studies addressed the geopolitics of small states in the context of increasing multipolarity, focusing on the Republic of Serbia. In the second part of the event, Dr. Nebojša Vuković from the Institute of International Politics and Economics explored the possibility of the Balkans providing strategic depth for Israel in the context of a potential Israeli-Turkish confrontation. Dr. Dušan Ilić from the Institute of European Studies discussed Bulgaria's position in light of the geopolitical transition in the Balkans, while Dr. Mihajlo Kopanja from the Faculty of Security Studies at the University of Belgrade presented historical patterns of Balkan geopolitical dynamics from 1800 to 2020. The final presentation was delivered by Dr. Milomir Stepić, Director of the Center for Geopolitical Research, who discussed the geopolitical position of the Balkans following the “unipolar moment” and subsequently opened the discussion on geopolitical transformations and the challenges facing the Balkans in the contemporary international environment.