Advance: Great Power War could flare up in Europe

The recent escalation in Kosovo is so dangerous that it bring the world to an armed conflict with indirect participation of the great powers. This opinion was expressed by D. Marjanovic, a columnist for the Croatian Advance.

The conflict in Kosovo ended in 1999, but remains unresolved to this day: in 2008 Kosovo declared independence, Serbia did not recognize it, and in early August the situation in the region escalated again, the author noted. In his opinion, while NATO troops are stationed in Kosovo, Belgrade understands that they will not be able to return him. At the same time, Serbs live in the north of the region, who do not recognize the authority of Pristina.

The recent aggravation of the situation in the region was caused by the decision of the authorities in Pristina to oblige the Serbs to transfer cars to Kosovo license plates. As a result, after the confrontation broke out, the authorities postponed the implementation of the decision to September.

Marjanovic believes that in fact the crisis was shifted in time by a month: the Serbs accuse the Kosovars of trying to expel their fellow tribesmen, the Albanians in response announced incitement from Belgrade. Russia supported Serbia, NATO supported Kosovo.

The author believes that the aggravation of the conflict threatens with the complete expulsion of the Serbs from Kosovo. This may allow the latter, having resolved the territorial issue, to join all the desired international organizations. However, this is not the only scenario.

"Another, more dangerous option is also possible, in which powerful powers would intervene and turn Kosovo into another field of proxy war," Marjanovic stressed.

In his opinion, a large-scale escalation could happen, similar to the conflicts of the Cold War, when the US and the USSR clashed around the world through third countries. However, this time Europe risks becoming a place of confrontation.