Donic: It is advantageous to be close to Trump; not surprising that Osmani seeks good relations

Petar Donic, associate of New Third Way, emphasized that it is not surprising that Kosovo’s President Vjosa Osmani highlights good relations with US President Donald Trump, as it is currently advantageous to be close to him. Our interlocutor believes that if Kosovo improves its relations with the US administration, this would be one of Osmani’s assets if she decides to run for another presidential term.

Regarding the letter Trump sent to Osmani and her emphasis on it, Donic stated that personal relationships are important to Trump. He noted that the US is an ally of Kosovo and an influential factor in Kosovo’s politics.

"America is a major ally of Kosovo and an influential factor in the world, especially in Kosovo Albanian politics, which is closely tied to American interests. Trump, upon taking office, brought an element of personal politics, where it matters what kind of personal relationship one has with him and his party. So it is neither surprising nor unusual that she has this approach, because it has been proven to work. Lobbying and aligning with Trump’s side is advantageous for any party that wants to achieve something, and we’ve seen that things can develop quickly, as in the case of Armenia and Azerbaijan, where they came and reached an agreement relatively quickly. We can expect similar bilateral agreements, with America mediating through Trump, in the future," Donic said.

He assessed that good relations with Trump and the US would be one of Osmani’s assets if she seeks another presidential term. However, he added that, according to statements by US Special Envoy Richard Grenell, Kosovo still needs to take many steps to improve relations.

"It won’t be enough on its own, but it will certainly be one of her assets. They need to take several steps. As we have seen in Grenell’s statement, there is sharp criticism that the Kosovo side is not ready for the agreements coming from Washington and that things are moving slowly. A good image toward Trump alone won’t be sufficient, but if they fix other issues, that factor will be very important in improving relations, and perhaps even crucial at some point. It could be the deciding factor," Donic concluded.