NATO’s democratic advance in the Western Balkans is explained as a point of departure from the temptation to fill the regional power vacuum (Croatia, Albania) within the constraints of Russia’s successful conflict perpetuation (Belgrade-Kosovo, Sarajevo-Srpska) but unfettered by its pipeline politics and in fact reinforced by its undeclared, subversive acts against domestic-political processes to strengthen anti-NATO segments (Montenegro, North Macedonia). NATO benefited from EU integration as a more powerful incentive than Russia, especially in what concerns Serbia as the region’s biggest local power.