"Unstable Peace: Tensions Escalate in Overlooked European Conflict Zone"

Despite a tentative agreement on a new path to normalization between Serbia and Kosovo, tensions remain high in the volatile region, with recent violence in northern Kosovo underscoring the fragility of stability. The EU and U.S. are heavily invested in the normalization of relations between the two countries, with the EU's carrot of potential membership serving as a key incentive for peace. However, progress on normalization talks is critical before upcoming elections in the European Parliament and the U.S., as resistance is more likely to come from the nationalistic bases of Serbia and Kosovo's respective leaders.