US Senator Jeanne Shaheen, the ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, along with the minority Democratic members of this committee, have released a new report examining the approach of President Donald Trump's administration towards China.
The report also addresses China's influence in the Balkans.
The Democratic minority report on the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee raises concerns about China's expanding economic influence in the Western Balkans, including Albania, at a time when - according to the report - the United States' strategic coordination with allies in the region has weakened.
According to the report, China has significantly expanded its economic presence in countries such as Albania, Serbia, and Montenegro.
According to the document, the Trump administration's abandonment of coordination with allies and mixed messages on China, as well as its softening approach to accountability in the region, reflect a broader retreat from alliances and institutions that have supported US and European security for decades.
“As a result, China has expanded its economic footprint throughout the region – particularly in Albania, Serbia and Montenegro. Albania has long prided itself on being one of the most pro-American countries in the world. However, while trade with the United States has declined, trade ties with China have expanded,” the report says.
According to data cited in the document, in the first nine months of 2025, Albania's imports from China increased by 23.5 percent compared to the same period in 2024, reflecting changes in the trajectory of bilateral trade flows.
The report also highlights that Serbia has compensated for its reduced dependence on Russia by increasing economic ties with China.
"Serbia has compensated for its reduced dependence on Russia by increasing economic ties with China, which is also strategically important for China's support for Serbia's position on Kosovo in multilateral institutions. By weakening the transatlantic partnership, signaling tolerance for authoritarian behavior, and ceding economic and political space to Beijing and Moscow, the Trump administration has created conditions for the expansion of their influence," the report says.
The document also addresses the role of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) as an important US instrument to provide alternatives to Chinese financing within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative.
According to the report, the Trump administration cut several MCC programs.
“Even where MCC projects were later allowed to continue, including in Nepal and Kosovo, the mid-implementation interruption increased project costs, disrupted implementation, and undermined confidence in the credibility of U.S. engagement,” the report said.
According to the authors' report, in many cases uncertainty about the future of the MCC forced partner governments to seek alternatives for funding, pushing some of them closer to China. /Telegraph/.
