Serbia is no peripheral small state. It is Europe’s geopolitical linchpin. For centuries, Serbia’s significance has vastly exceeded its size. Yet the West has repeatedly misjudged Serbia—with grave consequences for European stability and transatlantic security. In this unflinching analysis, Miroslav I. Emejdi exposes how • the unresolved Kosovo question, • China’s assertive strategic expansion across the Balkans, • Russia’s enduring leverage, and • successive Western miscalculations have deepened a historically rooted and, from Belgrade’s perspective, understandable mistrust of the West, while turning Serbia into a critical vulnerability within the Western security architecture. Drawing on the rapid shifts in the global balance of power, the author makes a compelling case: half-hearted Balkan policies are no longer sustainable. They directly undermine Western security at a time of intensifying great-power competition. Emejdi’s bold conclusion: Only the swift and comprehensive EU accession of Serbia and the entire Western Balkans can deliver lasting continental stability, relieve pressure on NATO and the transatlantic alliance, and better prepare the West for the defining challenges of the 21st century. A clear-eyed, provocative read that cuts through illusions and reveals why the Balkans could once again become Europe’s powder keg—and what must be done to prevent it. Essential for anyone who wants to understand the real fault lines shaping Europe’s future.