US President Donald Trump’s administration has taken a surprising interest in Kosovo just as the country prepares for its parliamentary election. Former US envoy for Serbia and Kosovo, Richard Grenell, has been appointed as Trump’s special envoy for special missions and recently criticized Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti, sparking bewilderment among Kosovars.
Kurti, who is seeking a clear majority for his second term, had stated that relations with the US were at their best level since Kosovo’s beginning. However, Grenell responded by calling Kurti’s words “delusional” and said that relations have never been lower. He also labelled Kurti as an “unreliable partner for Washington”.
The criticism has raised concerns among Kosovars, who value good relations with the US due to their history of conflict in the late 1990s and NATO intervention in 1999. The Trump administration’s sudden involvement in Kosovo has caught many off guard, especially given the country’s economic crisis and souring ethnic tensions.
On the other hand, Serbs are optimistic about a new era of relations with the US. Aleksandar Rapajić from a Serb NGO in Mitrovica expects the Trump administration to bring fresh solutions and improve their position in Kosovo. The Brussels agreements, signed in 2013, aim to normalise relations between Serbia and Kosovo, but both sides have struggled to implement them.
The US contingent, KFOR, is based at Camp Bondsteel, and its peacekeeping mission has been a vital part of the country’s stability. With Trump’s administration now taking a more active role, expectations for a positive shift in relations are high among Kosovars and Serbs alike.
Source: https://www.euronews.com/2025/02/07/ukraine-launches-fresh-assault-in-russias-kursk-region