Alexander Kasanof, the newly appointed Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for the Western Balkans, will be responsible for overseeing U.S. policy in the region, which is focused on supporting its European integration and accession to Euro-Atlantic institutions.

This information was confirmed by a spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State (DOS) in response to inquiries from Radio Free Europe about Kasanof’s goals in his new position.

Kasanof assumed the position of Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Western Balkans on July 19 of this year, succeeding Gabriel Escobar, whose term ended in May.

“Our policy promotes regional economic cooperation and reforms that will bring sustainable peace, stability, and prosperity to the region. We will continue to work with Western Balkan states and our European partners to advance these goals under Kasanof’s leadership,” the DOS spokesperson told Radio Free Europe.

He added that Kasanof will also engage closely with the leaders of Kosovo and Serbia and with European partners “on the path toward achieving a normalized, peaceful, and productive relationship between the two countries.”

Since July 19, Kasanof has also been serving as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Media and Public Diplomacy in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs at the U.S. Department of State.

According to the biography published on the DOS website, he has served as an executive assistant under former Under Secretary for Political Affairs, Victoria Nuland, and during the tenure of Acting Under Secretary for Political Affairs, John Bass.

Kasanof has served in Ireland, Turkmenistan, Chile, and Ukraine.

He has been recognized for his work as a political advisor at the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv during the Maidan Revolution and the subsequent Russian invasion of Ukraine.

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