Trump Extends U.S. State of Emergency for the Western Balkans for Another Year

The President of the United States has signed an extension of the national state of emergency related to the Western Balkans for another year, arguing that developments and actions that undermine peace, stability, and democratic processes in the region continue to pose a risk to U.S. national security and foreign policy.

According to the document, concerns remain over efforts to undermine the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the countries of the Western Balkans, severe corruption, challenges to post-war agreements, as well as the evasion of U.S. sanctions.

The document also underlines that the situation in the Western Balkans continues to hinder the functioning of effective democratic governance and the full Euro-Atlantic integration of the countries of the region.

For this reason, the U.S. administration has decided that the state of emergency, originally declared in 2001, will remain in force until June 26, 2027. This measure serves as the basis for imposing sanctions on individuals and entities that undermine peace, stability, and democratic order in the region.

Full letter:

“On January 8, 2025, the President signed Executive Order 14140, in light of developments in the Western Balkans, including the continued efforts of individuals to challenge the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Western Balkan countries, to undermine post-war agreements and institutions, to engage in serious corruption that harms the rule of law and confidence in democratic governance, and to evade sanctions of the Government of the United States, with the aim of taking additional steps within the framework of the national emergency related to the Western Balkans. The actions of persons threatening peace and international efforts to stabilize the Western Balkans, including acts of extremist violence and obstructive activities, as well as the situation in the Western Balkans that impedes progress toward effective and democratic governance and full integration into transatlantic institutions, continue to constitute an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States,” the document states.

“For this reason, the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13219, under which additional steps were taken in Executive Order 13304, which was expanded by Executive Order 14033 and under which further measures were taken by Executive Order 14140, must continue in effect beyond June 26, 2026. Therefore, in accordance with section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)), I am continuing for a period of one year the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13219 with respect to the Western Balkans,” the document concludes.