Will the United States Abandon Kosovo?

I was stunned by this verbal bombshell.

Serbian 'carte blanche'

Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic (L), High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell (2-L) and Kosovo's Prime Minister Albin Kurti (R) at the start of a trilateral meeting for an EU-Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue at EEAS building in Brussels, Belgium, 27 February 2023. Photo: EPA-EFE/STEPHANIE LECOCQ

While Kurti may indeed share part of the blame by venturing into a predictable Serb maelstrom, it is unfathomable that Hovenier would essentially delegitimise Kosovo in the eyes of the world after over 20 years of strong support from the US.

Perhaps some tough love was in order, but Hovenier has played right into the hands of Serbia and Russia, and presented them with a political victory they never could have achieved on their own, even in their wildest dreams.

Serbia has engaged in a campaign of de-recognition and de-internationalisation for years, across the globe. It now has carte blanche to continue its efforts.

Another US sanction was to retract an invitation to Kosovo to participate in 'Defender 23', joint military exercises involving the US, NATO countries and its partners. This represents a huge blow to Kosovo's aspirations to join the EU and NATO.

How did Kosovo arrive at this perilous place where the US, its major supporter and benefactor, is reluctant to rebuke Serbia, while at the same time, as Americans say, throwing Kosovo under the bus?

Sticking point in negotiations

During my 28 months in Kosovo between 2011 and 2013, I was always aware of the ethnic tension between the Albanians and Serbs, particularly in the north.

On one...

Continue reading on: