NATO shows whether American troops are at risk of withdrawing from Kosovo after Iraq and Afghanistan

But despite Trump's decision to withdraw troops to two states where security continues to be a challenge, it is not expected in Kosovo.

From NATO they have told “Zit” that Allies are committed to guarding their forces in the KFOR mission consisting of over 3,000 troops.

An official NATO, has dismissed the possibility of US troops withdrawing from Kosovo following a decision to withdraw to Afghanistan and Iraq.

“NATO is fully committed to Kosovo's security. We regularly appreciate our KFOR mission and based on that all Allies agree that we must maintain the actual force of approximately 3,500 troops. In line with the UN mandate, our KFOR mission will continue to provide a safe and secure environment and freedom of movement for all communities in Kosovo”, this NATO official has said.

To NATO, important, is the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, which they say fully supports.

“NATO also fully supports the continuation of EU facilitated dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina. This is critical for Belgrade and Pristina, but also for regional peace and security”, he added.

Danger small for a similar decision to be made for Kosovo

From the Kosovar Centre for Security Studies (QKSS), they say that at the moment there is no danger of American troops withdrawing from Kosovo, but that the director of this Mentor Vrajolli Centre has said of “Zrin” that local institutions should have it clear that KFOR in Kosovo has no permanent mandate and that they must prepare to build defence capacities to be willing to retain sovereignty.

The danger of attracting American troops from Kosovo seems to be relatively small. However, Kosovo institutions should be aware that KFOR is not a permanent mandate mission aimed at staying in Kosovo forever. Thus, efforts to build full defence capacities must be intensified. In particular, Kosovo must be ready to defend its sovereignty from any threat it may threaten. And to make sure that this is happening, the Ministry of Defence will still have to be more transparent about the steps that are being taken by”, Vrjolli said about “Zrin”.

The danger of a possible withdrawal of American troops from Kosovo is ruled out by security expert Nuredin Ibishi.

Although calling Trump's decision to withdraw troops from Afghanistan and Iraq unexpected, Ibishi says Kosovo is the case “Sui-generis” and that American interests in Kosovo differ from those in these two states.

The knower of security issues estimates that the Balkans is a region that can quickly be disturbed, while the American troops' stance in our country links it, in addition to the impact Russia is trying to extend to this region.

Kosovo's “Case is a special case, and I think it won't happen to attract American troops because it's the biggest interest even because the Balkans are every time a country that can be particularly disturbed about unselected issues, but also because of Russia's intervention in this part, which is more aggressive and for this, the US will not give up its presence in Kosovo, whether it is a KFOR mission or with the American subx1>Randel”, says Ibischi.

The withdrawal of American troops from Kosovo had returned to the daily topic earlier this year, when the government, at the time led by Albin Kurti, refused to remove the tax on Serbia, which had blocked dialogue in Brussels between the two countries.

It was US Senator David Perdue, who had declared that if the Kosovo government did not remove the tax on Serbia, then the US should reconsider its presence in this country.

For more than two decades, US forces have helped preserve peace between Kosovo and Serbia. Now, with the progress made historical, Kosovo must do its part and abolish all duties imposed on Serbia. If Kosovo is not fully committed to peace, then the US must reconsider its presence there”, Perdue wrote in a writing in Titter, which was immediately distributed by the US special envoy for Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, Richard Green, giving support to this statement.