Deputy Chief of US Mission to NATO: We hope for progress in the dialogue that will enable reduction of KFOR

Richard Holtzapple, the Deputy Chief of Mission of the United States to NATO, stated that the US hoped for progress in the dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo mediated by the European Union in order to reduce the need for the presence of the international KFOR Mission, and he refrained from assessing how much longer the NATO mission would be required to stay in Kosovo.

During discussions with representatives of several influential Serbian media outlets in Brussels, Holtzapple was asked about his perspective on the KFOR Mission and its future in five years, especially considering the Kosovo Security Force (KSF). He mentioned that making such predictions was challenging but emphasized NATO's ability to sustain its mission and adapt to circumstances.

"I'm not going to try and make a forecast for how long KFOR will stay in Kosovo. Our hope is for progress in the dialogue, EU-facilitated dialogue, to create conditions for reducing international presence. However, I know our allies remain determined. We have demonstrated our ability to sustain the mission for so long and to adapt to the situation. We will continue to do so. I wouldn't presume to say now that KFOR will still be needed in five years. I'm more optimistic that we'll see political progress that would enable other possibilities," Holtzapple said.

When asked about the biggest risk in the Western Balkans currently, he noted that the risk in the region remained the same as it had been for the past 30 years.

"The politics in the region pose a risk. It's necessary for all countries in the region to have productive cooperation. We have made significant progress over the past 30 years, and I think there is still a lot more to be done," he said.

Regarding whether this year poses more challenges due to the situation in Ukraine, he stated that NATO members would remain unified and resolute regarding the war in Ukraine.

"There's still much work to be done. The Moscow regime needs to understand that we won't abandon support for Ukraine. We have a lot of work this year. Whether it's more challenging – I don't know. Our task is to offer every bit of support that we can for Ukraine, and we will do it for as long as it takes," Holtzapple affirmed.

He also mentioned that NATO members always aspired to work even more collectively as allies.

"You will see at the Washington Summit, which will take place in July to mark the 75th anniversary of NATO. We will have more projects to announce, both those concerning support for Ukraine and those through which we, as allies, contribute to collective security. We know the world has become more challenging and dangerous, and it's necessary for all of us to rely on each other in promoting security. We have defense plans," Holtzapple said.

With Finland and Sweden becoming NATO members, NATO gained two new allies and a 1,300-kilometer-long border with Russia. In this regard, the question arises about the implications of the "Defender 2024" exercise and what it will demonstrate.

"The situation's development in Ukraine and the lessons we've learned are very important for further development. The accession of Finland and Sweden brings greater security to all members because these are very capable states, and their militaries have long been interoperable with the NATO Alliance. We see significant benefits, which are a significant consequence that Putin did not anticipate when he attacked Ukraine. It also sends a clear message to other European countries to take national security seriously, and the best way to do that is collectively," the American diplomat indicated.

When asked if NATO members, or Europe, are at risk of "awakening sleepers" belonging to extremist Islamic organizations like Hamas and Hezbollah, settled throughout Europe in light of the conflicts in the Middle East, he said NATO must remain prepared to address such threats.

"We have always been clear about the danger still posed by terrorist organizations. We can't turn a blind eye to that challenge; we must be cautious. The events of the past seven months have shown that we must remain prepared to respond to these threats. We cooperate with allies in monitoring terrorist organizations and activists, and we'll continue with that international cooperation," the Deputy Chief of the US Mission to NATO concluded.