US Congress demands investigation into Serbia's ties to Russian intelligence and the Center in Niš

The bill, called the Balkan Security Cooperation Act , was introduced on October 5 by U.S. Congressmen Ritchie Torres of New York and Joe Wilson of South Carolina. The document, registered as HR 10748, has been referred to the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

According to the proposal, the US Secretary of Defense, with the consent of the Secretary of State, would have to submit to Congress a comprehensive report on the security relations of the countries in the region with Russia, China, the US and NATO, within 180 days of the law's possible entry into force.

The initiative includes Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, Kosovo, Albania, North Macedonia and Slovenia.

Particular attention is paid to Serbia's cooperation with Russia, including the activities of the Russian-Serbian Humanitarian Center in Niš and its possible connections with Russian intelligence services.

The bill requires the Pentagon to assess the operations of this center, its impact, and possible coordination with Russian intelligence agencies.

The center in Niš has been the focus of concerns from Western security institutions for years, due to questions about the nature of its activities and relations with Russian state structures.

According to the text of the bill, US authorities would also have to prepare a list of Russian and Chinese weapons systems, military equipment and technology, worth at least one million dollars in each case, that countries in the region have purchased or received since 2012.

The report would also include military exercises, security force training, signed agreements and intelligence cooperation with Moscow and Beijing.

Another important element is the assessment of the impact that this cooperation may have on the security interests of the US, NATO, and neighboring countries.

However, the initiative is not limited to Russian and Chinese influence in the Balkans.

The bill provides for the collection of data on US military equipment sent to countries in the region since 2012, joint military exercises, security agreements, and intelligence cooperation with the United States.

Each country's cooperation with NATO, including participation in the Partnership for Peace program, would also be reviewed.

According to the document, the report would be published in unclassified form, and could also include a confidential annex for sensitive information.

HR 10748 is still in the legislative process. Its submission does not mean that it has been approved by the US Congress or that the Pentagon has already received an order to prepare the report.

If approved, the initiative would require American institutions to draft a more detailed overview of security relations in the Balkans, with a focus on cooperation with great powers and the potential consequences for regional security and American interests. /The GeoPost/