Balkans will stick with United States over Chinese 5G

Significance

With Bulgaria signing on October 23, 27 out of 30 NATO members have joined the pact, and only Bosnia-Hercegovina and Montenegro in the Balkans have not. According to the US State Department, the programme aims to safeguard data privacy, security and human rights from such “authoritarian malign actors” as the Chinese Communist Party.

Impacts

• The time may have come for Balkans countries to evaluate their own needs, capabilities and interests, against what the big powers want.
• Signatory countries will start implementing Clean Network core principles, ultimately distancing themselves from China and Huawei.
• Chinese influence in the region takes various forms and will remain strong even if it loses the fight for the Balkan 5G market.