The alliance that built freedom is now on the test

When in 1998, Kosovo was being suffocated by the violence of the Serbian regime, hope for survival came from one address: the United States of America.

In May of that year, the then political leader of the Kosovo Albanians, Ibrahim Rugova, was received at the White House by US President Bill Clinton to tell him about the persecution his people were experiencing.

"We asked the United States to do something urgently to stop the violence and attacks in Kosovo. And the best solution is an independent Kosovo," Rugova said after the meeting.

Clashes between Serbian forces and Albanians who had taken up arms were increasing every day. Civilian casualties were deepening the crisis, while American diplomacy was getting more deeply involved.

Meetings, intense talks, diplomatic conditioning and attempts at agreement - everything was brought back into the spotlight this week by James Rubin - then US Assistant Secretary of State - during his testimony before the Specialist Chambers in The Hague.

“It was a dramatic attempt to bring peace and prevent what we feared would be a major massacre of Kosovo Albanians through a peace conference,” Rubin said.

The Rambouillet peace conference failed: the Serbian side rejected the agreement proposed by the West, while the Kosovar side accepted it. Thus, the United States - as Rubin recalled - fulfilled the promise it had made to the representative of the Kosovar side of the war, Hashim Thaçi - that if Serbia did not sign, the US would launch a military campaign.

The first NATO aircraft took to the air on March 24, 1999, to mark the beginning of a crucial chapter for Kosovo.

“America has an obligation to stand by our allies as they strive to save innocent lives and preserve peace, freedom, and stability in Europe. That is what we are doing in Kosovo,” Clinton said that evening in a speech to the nation.

Seventy-eight days of bombing led to the withdrawal of Serbian forces and the liberation of Kosovo. The United States entered the field with thousands of soldiers - part of a NATO peacekeeping mission - and set up the largest military base in the Balkans.

For years, the US stood by Kosovo, becoming the main supporter of its independence.

"The United States officially recognized Kosovo as a sovereign and independent state. In its declaration of independence, Kosovo pledged itself to the highest standards of democracy, including freedom, tolerance, and justice for citizens of all ethnicities," said then-US President George W. Bush - two days after Kosovo declared independence on February 17, 2008.

Over the 27 years since 1998, the United States invested over two billion dollars in Kosovo - supporting everything from rule of law reforms to combating violent extremism and efforts to integrate into Euro-Atlantic structures.

Today, the picture could not be more different. Kosovo's closest ally for years suspended the planned Strategic Dialogue - designed to deepen bilateral relations. It linked the decision to the actions of the acting Kosovo Government and the rise in tensions in the country. But the Government rejected the criticism.

"Our legal and constitutional actions have always served to eliminate sources of instability. The stability we enjoy today is a natural result of the rule of law and public order," wrote the acting Government Spokesperson, Përparim Kryeziu, on Facebook.

And, a week after the suspension of the Strategic Dialogue, the acting Prime Minister himself reacted, Albin Kurti, who said that relations with the US have not broken down, but admitted that there are "some" differences in attitudes.

For former US Ambassador to Kosovo, Jeffrey Hovenier, the suspension of the Strategic Dialogue was the result of accumulated frustrations towards Albin Kurti's Government over the last two years.

The frustrations began due to several measures that were perceived as uncoordinated and detrimental to the Serbian community - such as the abolition of the dinar or the closure of several Serbian institutions - and culminated in Kurti's harsh criticism of the Constitutional Court for several of its judgments.

"Strategic Dialogue "It allows for greater and deeper cooperation. It works like this: delegations go to Washington, or delegations come to Pristina; the US government brings people from the Department of Energy, the Department of Defense, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Commerce... In a way, the entire government works to strengthen the relationship. So, losing this opportunity is a big loss," Hovenier tells Radio Free Europe.

Social media was dominated by commentators who gave the incumbent Government of Kosovo the benefit of the doubt, saying that “where America gets involved, there is only desert left.” Others went even further, saying that “we have never seen your good side,” or “great job, 26 years, you are playing like a cat with a mouse.”

But some regional observers consider it a truly big deal, saying that Kosovo, faced with Serbia's territorial claims and unresolved disputes with it, should not put US support to the test.

"US support is essential in many ways, but the most important one is related to the presence of American soldiers on the ground. Kosovo will want to keep them there. And I think they should stay there," he tells the Expose program. of Radio Free Europe Daniel Serwer, professor at Johns Hopkins University.

At a time when the Pentagon is expected to announce a significant reduction in US forces in Europe, Charles Kupchan, of the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington, says it is in the interest of Kosovo and Kurti to maintain a strong relationship with the United States.

“I think it would be irresponsible and self-destructive if the government in Kosovo continues to take steps that damage the relationship with a country that has been such a strong supporter,” says Kupchan.

Regarding the possibility of Kosovo navigating itself, without strong American support, Hovenier leaves the decision to the citizens, but adds this:

"If I were the political leader of Kosovo - which I am not - I would be very careful not to do anything that would damage or negatively affect my relationship with the United States."

In a survey conducted by the International Republican Institute (IRI) between May and July of this year, 77 percent of respondents in Kosovo said they see the US as their country's most important ally.

In the same survey, 38 percent of citizens said that the country needs a change of main political leaders and ruling parties, while 44 percent said they favor improving the economic situation and social justice.

Analysts warn that both sides must tread carefully, because any vacuum created by the cooling of American support for Kosovo could be exploited by malign powers, such as Russia, and their actors on the ground, and neither side wants this risk.

"Kosovo can only maintain good relations with Europe and the US if it is seen to be negotiating in good faith and in a constructive manner, to move the region forward," Kupchan tells Radio Free Europe.

Serwer suggests that Kosovo strengthen relations with other allies, especially at a time when, as he says, the US is being distracted by other global priorities. In particular, he mentions Japan, South Korea, and Greece.

"There are other options, although none are as good as the Americans. But if you get a group of friends together, you can somehow compensate for the loss of American attention. I'm not sure if the Kosovo government is doing this, and it's difficult for a government in office to do this," says Serwer.

REL interlocutors warn that complacency in the name of independence can be dangerous. They underline that coordination with allies and international partners does not violate sovereignty, but is an essential means to preserve it and guarantee stability.

Global examples such as the meeting organized last month by US President Donald Trump with European leaders on the crisis in Ukraine clearly show that cooperation is not only advisable, but also necessary.

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani pledged to engage with the administration of US President Donald Trump to strengthen and defend the alliance with the US, which she said "has always been to the benefit of our people, national security, regional stability and Euro-Atlantic integration."

Clinton, Albright, Bush, Biden - all of whom are names engraved today in the public spaces of Kosovo.

About five months after the liberation, Clinton went to Kosovo to meet with the people who had placed their trust in him. Amidst cheering crowds, he acknowledged that forgiveness is difficult, but said it is essential to creating lasting peace.

"No one can force you to forgive what was done to you. But you have to try," Clinton said in November 99. /REL/