Joseph message to the next government: Prepare for strong pressure, flight from KFOR is ruled out

Prime Minister Albin Kurti may face similar pressures against Ukrainian President Donald Trump, but is in even more unfavourable positions than Zelensky. He does not have the full support of the EU or Great Britain, and has consistently faced criticism.

That is what Professor and foreign policy expert Edward Joseph thinks.

In an interview for A2Con, Joseph did not rule out the possibility of withdrawing US troops from KFOR, but says Trump must face problems that will result from such a decision.

Part of the interview:

A2 CNN: Prime Minister Kurti, who has won elections again, has not had such good reports with Trump. Officials of his administration, such as Richard Green, have sharply criticised him. Considering that Kosovo remains in an unresolved conflict with Serbia. Should we expect pressure on Kurt, as in Zelensky's case, to push towards a deal?

Edward Joseph: Yes! 100 percent yes, is the answer to the question. Now, will it be the pressure to reach agreement, or something else, I can't say. We cannot know exact demands. But if Prime Minister Kurti returns as prime minister, then he -- and all in Kosovo -- must expect very high pressure from the Trump administration. Prime Minister Kurti could face the same treatment as the one Trump reserved for Zelensky. And Prime Minister Kurti is not in the same position as Zelensky.

The Ukrainian president has great European support, has great support from the United Kingdom. Prime Minister Kurti does not have that support. For Prime Minister Kurti, there is controversy and criticism from the European Union and the United Kingdom. We must also understand that Prime Minister Kurti also had criticism from the previous US administration, the Biden one. That's why this isn't something Donald Trump has to do. This is about frustration in all these Western countries with Prime Minister Kurti's leadership, in addition to the problems they have with Serbia.

I admit it. Serbia is provocative and under President Vuciq's leadership, has taken clear steps to provoke and destabilise the situation, and I accept that. At the same time, Prime Minister Kurti has unnecessarily provoked the situation in northern Kosovo and has not fulfilled his responsibility as prime minister of all Kosovo citizens. He has not met this in the direction of Serbs, who are citizens of Kosovo and whom Prime Minister Kurti should try to pull away from Belgrade, instead of putting pressure on them to look to Belgrade rather than Pristina.

A2 CNN: Do you think Trump can postpone an agreement that may involve exchange of territories?

Edward Joseph: That's a fair question. It's a reasonable question. And of course a question has to be asked. But we do not know the answer to that question. The answer to that question would be what dangers the Trump administration would be willing to take on whether it would propose territorial exchange. After the administration would accept very high risks in Bosnia and Herzegovina, because Milorad Dodik would surely benefit from this. He is currently in poor standing with the recent sentence and crisis in Bosnia, and we have seen President Vuciq travel to Banja Luka show support for him. So if there is exchange of territories there, what would prevent Milorad Dodik from advancing with his intentions? This problem would go back to the doors of Trump Administration, and the question about him and his advisers would be: he loves these problems?

A2 CNN: Do you see any danger that the US may withdraw its troops from KFOR, and what would that mean for security?

Edward Joseph: My answer will be very similar. Donald Trump can't rule out anything. He said in his speech that Greenland will become part of the United States one day. He said that in his speech this week in Congress. So if he says such a thing about Greenland, can he move troops from Kosovo? Well, that's Donald Trump. We don't know what I can do. But the question remains, if he wants the consequences of such an act. That's the question. For the United States, keeping troops in Kosovo has no major costs. So here's the question for Donald Trump. Do you love the problems that come with such decisions?