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The perceived deterioration of relations between Kosovo and the United States of America is not only related to the issue of the Serbian List and relations with Serbia, assesses for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty political analyst from Pristina, Artan Muhaxhiri. Serbian political scientist, Ognjen Gogić, also believes that the “unilateral and uncoordinated actions” of the Kosovo authorities are the main reason for the deterioration of relations between Kosovo and the US and adds that American diplomats have warned several times that Kosovo, due to these actions, is jeopardizing mutual cooperation.
Kosovo's acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti stated on December 11 that relations with the United States are very good and that disagreements are mainly related to Serbia and its structures, and never to bilateral issues. He added that there have been cases when the United States has assessed that his stance towards Serbia has been too rigorous. His government, since last year, has begun closing down Serbian institutions in Kosovo, on the grounds that they have been parallel and illegal.
This has caused dissatisfaction among the Serbian community, but also harsh criticism from Western countries, because, as it has been said, no alternative solution has been offered for providing services to citizens. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty has reached out to the US Embassy in Pristina to comment on Kurti's claims, but has not received a response. Muhaxhiri believes that it is naive to believe that relations between Kosovo and the United States, which "transcend typical political classifications, due to the vital influence that the US has had in Kosovo's recent past", can be reduced to "a simplified daily political explanation for a practically non-existent situation".
Gogic, on the other hand, recalls that the United States suspended the strategic dialogue with Kosovo, as a result of Kurti’s criticism of the Constitutional Court, which has made decisions in favor of the Serbian List – the largest Serb party in Kosovo, which enjoys support from Belgrade. In September of this year, the United States temporarily suspended this process with Kosovo, due to concerns about the actions of the current government. The strategic dialogue was intended to strengthen economic and diplomatic ties between the two countries, but Kurti’s actions have been seen as an obstacle to progress.
Are there any other open issues?
Muhaxhiri points out that Kurti has, for years, been “very harshly critical of the way Kosovar politicians have behaved towards the United States,” accusing them of “submission without dignity.” Since taking power, Muhaxhiri says, Kurti has made it clear that this relationship will change and be based on reciprocity and equality. “By changing this dynamic of power relations, he has projected the implementation of Kosovo’s more sovereign strategies and more autonomous decision-making, introducing the country into a kind of ‘post-American’ phase, where Washington cannot always automatically count on Kosovo’s ‘yes.’ However, Kurti has never clearly explained how he intends to diversify the changed level of support from the world superpower with other global allies – which is absolutely necessary for Kosovo’s progress,” Muhaxhiri tells Radio Free Europe.
Gogić says that, in theory, it is possible for the United States to impose individual sanctions on people who “make things difficult for them in the Balkans.” “For Kosovo, punishment enough is the fact that the US is reducing its interest in this country. Kosovo can hardly function without US support,” Gogić tells Radio Free Europe. He recalls that the US, before the local elections in Kosovo, warned the Self-Determination Movement, led by Kurti, not to try to eliminate the Serbian List from the electoral race.
Vetevendosje has tried four times this year to prevent it from participating in the elections – which has prompted harsh criticism from the international community. “Kosovo is acting contrary to what the Americans say, as if in anger… In addition to the fact that the Americans have criticized all these actions, the US has also lost interest in this region – including Kosovo. When Kosovo is not strategically important for the Americans – and yet problems are created without reason – this increases their burden. Therefore, these relations are quite damaged,” Gogić assesses, adding that it will now be difficult for Kosovo to improve them. In the new US National Security Strategy, Kosovo is mentioned only in the “principles” chapter as one of the successes of US President Donald Trump in achieving peace between it and Serbia. However, the National Defense Authorization Act notes that the Agreement on the Path to Normalization of Relations between Kosovo and Serbia is a “positive step forward in advancing normalization between the two countries” and calls for its implementation. It also states that the United States should continue to support a final comprehensive agreement between Kosovo and Serbia, based on mutual recognition.
Is the Serbian List an obstacle in relations with the US?
Kosovo's acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti said in an interview with local television, Kanal 10, that his government cannot declare the Serbian List a terrorist organization, because this should be done by the justice system. He believes that there is a basis for such an action, since the Serbian List has never distanced itself from its former deputy leader, Milan Radoićić, who claimed responsibility for the armed attack in Banjska – northern Kosovo – in September 2023. A policeman was killed in this attack, while three Serb attackers were also killed in the armed clashes that followed. Kurti recalled that the Serbian organizations "Civil Protection" and "Northern Brigade" have been declared terrorists, but that Western partners, according to him, have refused to declare them as such.
Muhaxhiri emphasizes that the Serbian List cannot itself determine the relations between Kosovo and the US or other Western countries. According to him, it serves more as a “cover to divert attention from the real problems that are hidden under this discourse”. “It is well known that Kurti’s battle against the Serbian List is mainly performative and symbolic, because it lacks all the necessary elements of institutional seriousness. All of this only serves to mobilize the most radical part of his electorate, especially in the virtual reality of social networks. If his idea were real, the approach would be completely different”, Muhaxhiri assesses. He concludes that all of Kurti’s actions against the Serbian List or Belgrade fall within the framework of “political propaganda games” and that their influence will remain only at this level./ REL
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