Former senior American official, Charles Kupchan, believes that the United States Congress is trying to bring the Western Balkans back into the focus of American foreign policy, at a time when the region faces instability and political deadlock.
According to him, the inclusion of Kosovo and Serbia in the United States National Defense Authorization Act document aims to exert constructive pressure on Pristina and Belgrade to move forward in dialogue and overcome the current deadlock, while simultaneously seeking stable governments in both countries.
He highlights to Euronews Albania that Congress is trying to encourage President Trump and his administration to engage more actively in the region, at a time when a serious US refocus on security issues in the Balkans is needed.
"Trump will try to include the normalization of Kosovo-Serbia relations in his list of achievements. So, we have the increase in American concern that comes after the US withdrawal from the dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo and we have the absence of a Kosovo government for a long period. The document encourages Prime Minister Kurti to form a government as soon as possible after winning the elections. But there are concerns about Mr. Kurti's approach."
"Kosovo's presence in this document aims to encourage Pristina and Belgrade to move forward in the bilateral dialogue and overcome the impasse that has gripped them. The document also calls on these two countries to have stable governments. In Serbia we have a destabilized situation, in Kosovo we have been without a government for months, so it is time for both countries to move forward with the difficult work they have."
"In Congress, in both chambers, there are many officials who have spent significant time in the Balkans, so we have a draft that has come out specifically for the Balkans. Previously, the Trump administration had not focused much on the security aspect of Europe, as the Biden administration did, and this is an effort by Congress to encourage the president and the people around him, including Secretary Rubio, to take up this agenda."
"Trump himself has made several statements about Kosovo and Serbia, taking credit for preventing a war between them. Now Congress is asking President Trump to engage in the Balkans, as we are seeing a retreat and we need to refocus on the issues of the Balkan region," he said.
