Bangladesh, Oct. 9 -- The long-anticipated US sanctions on Serbias state-linked energy firm Naftna Industrija Srbije (NIS) officially took effect on October 9, marking a significant escalation in Washingtons efforts to curb Russian influence in the Balkans. The move targets Serbias largest energy company, which remains majority-owned by Russias Gazprom Neft, and sends a clear message to Belgrade: continued reliance on Moscow carries a mounting geopolitical and economic cost.

For months, Serbian officials and business leaders had hoped that the US Treasurys Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) would again postpone the sanctions enforcement. Temporary waivers had allowed NIS to continue operations despite its Russian ownership, shieldin...