New Silk Road on the Balkans. Case of Macedonia and Serbia

In this article I focus on the New Silk Road - the Chinese initiative – until 2016 known as the One Belt One Road Initiative OBOR - and later changed to the Belt and Road Initiative BRI. I put special attention to the Balkan part of this economic strategy that is crucial and to two countries taking part in it: Macedonia and Serbia. The shortest way from Greece to Central Europe is going through Macedonia and Serbia and this track is becoming more important after Chinese investments in Greek port of Piraeus. I focus on Chinese plans and investments in these two countries and also on the possible threats to the initiative on the Balkans such as migrant crisis in Europe and radicalisation of Muslims.