A group of US congressmen and senators have sent a letter to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, expressing concern over reports that the Donald Trump administration may reduce the presence of US troops in the NATO peacekeeping mission in Kosovo, KFOR.
In the letter to Rubio, US lawmakers warn that a premature reduction of US forces could destabilize not only Kosovo, but also the Western Balkans region, including especially Bosnia and Herzegovina.
According to them, at a time when the region faces political tensions and external influences, maintaining current levels of US troops is essential to protecting the security interests of the United States of America.
The lawmakers emphasize that since its establishment in 1999 through UN Security Council Resolution 1244, KFOR has played a key role in maintaining peace between Kosovo and Serbia, as well as in preventing ethnic violence and external interference.
Currently, the US contributes around 500 soldiers to a mission of nearly 5000 troops in total, a presence that they say has great strategic impact and serves as an important deterrent against the potential escalation of tensions in the region.
The letter also states that a reduction in the American presence could weaken KFOR's political and military role and encourage actors who see the West's withdrawal as an opportunity to foment destabilization.
Lawmakers also express concern about the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where the leader of the Republika Srpska entity, Milorad Dodik, has continued with separatist rhetoric and challenges to the country's constitutional order.
They warn that even the perception of an American withdrawal from KFOR could encourage nationalist agendas in the region and increase the risk of political and security crises.
The letter also mentions Russia's destabilizing role in the Western Balkans, which it says has repeatedly attempted to exploit divisions in the region and weaken the influence of NATO and the European Union.
Lawmakers are seeking clarification from the State Department on the potential security implications of such a reduction and are calling for any decision to change the US military presence in Kosovo to be closely coordinated with the US Congress.
The letter was signed by several US lawmakers, including Michael R. Turner, Brendan F. Boyle, Gregory W. Meeks, Rick Larsen, Jeanne Shaheen, Charles Grassley, Thom Tillis, Roger Wicker, Ann Wagner, Chris Van Hollen, Joni Ernst and Peter Welch./Telegraph.
