Ivanov: Cameron's statements imply that Great Britain will become more actively involved in the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia

Research fellow at the Henry Jackson Society, Helena Ivanov, believes that the statement of British Foreign Secretary David Cameron, indicating that Great Britain would help Kosovo gain new recognition, signals that the country will become more actively involved in the process of normalizing relations between Belgrade and Pristina.

However, Ivanov assesses that the normalization of relations between Serbia and Kosovo will still be "in the hands" of the EU and the US, considering that Kosovo is not a priority for Great Britain, which has more complex issues crucial for its positioning on the international scene, such as the conflict in Ukraine and the Gaza Strip.

"Such a statement by Cameron is indeed a significant diplomatic blow to Serbia, and accordingly, we should not be too surprised that Ivica Dacic was sharp in his commentary on this statement. Regarding the influence of Britain, it should be emphasized that at this moment, the EU and the US are the main actors involved in the normalization process between Serbia and Kosovo, and I think they will remain the key players in this process, at least in the short term. It remains to be seen to what extent Britain will increase its role in this process", Ivanov emphasized.

She points out that statements from EU and US presidents about Kosovo still carry more weight than statements from British representatives, although, she adds, this does not mean that they are irrelevant.

She notes that Cameron's statement may indeed be a signal that Britain's engagement will increase in the normalization process between Belgrade and Pristina, but at this moment, Britain has more pressing issues to address than resolving this matter.

"There is certainly the war in Ukraine and assistance to Ukraine, then the conflict between Israel and Hamas. Britain will also have global elections. The Tories hope to retain power, although current polls make it seem less likely", she said.

She recalls that Great Britain has had a clear stance on the conflict between Serbia and Kosovo from the very beginning, adding that support for Kosovo dates back to the time of Tony Blair and continued through all the different governments that the country had later.

In that context, she emphasizes that neither the visit to Kosovo nor David Cameron's comments should be surprising, as they are in line with the general approach that Great Britain has in the conflict between Serbia and Kosovo.

"As for David Cameron's visit itself, it carries a significant message suggesting that Great Britain will become more involved in the normalization process between Serbia and Kosovo. This is potentially even in line with Britain's geopolitical position – it has stepped out of the EU, trying to find its place on the international scene, especially since the EU has not yet resolved the process of normalizing relations between Serbia and Kosovo. Potentially, this is a message that Great Britain will become more engaged in that process and be more involved than it has been so far", Ivanov concluded.