As the American secretary of state, John Kerry, put it a few months ago, Macedonia is one of the European countries that are “in the line of fire” when it comes to relations between Washington and Moscow. By extension, so is much of the Balkans, too. To begin with, Bulgaria, Serbia, Kosovo, Albania, and Greece covet bits and pieces of Macedonia. With the exception of Kosovo and Albania, Russia is squarely on their side, for they are all Orthodox Christian countries. Also, America is squarely on the side of Kosovo and Albania, as well as Bosnia and Herzegovina not far away. Closer by, Montenegro is not involved at present, but the Russian sphere of influence is palpable there, as well. To make things even more complicated, all of these tottering countries are striving to join the European Union any time soon. To wit, Macedonia is actually in the line of fire when it comes to relations between Washington, Moscow, and Brussels. So, what can we expect of the Macedonian conundrum? The proverbial powder keg that is the Balkan peninsula can be easily ignited. America, Russia, and the European Union will do their best to keep it a single step from deadly ignition. A single step! Within the borders of the vaunted Union, it will keep many a diplomat busy for years on end, but the solution to the conundrum will escape them all the while. It is the Balkans, after all.