Joseph: Kosovo in a bad situation, US had problems with Kurti even during the Biden administration

Analyst Edward Joseph from Johns Hopkins University stated that Kosovo is currently in a difficult position regarding its relations with the US and expressed hope that the “US tour” of Vjosa Osmani and Albin Kurti was aimed at improving Kosovo’s standing in the US after the suspension of the strategic dialogue.

“I agree that Kosovo is currently in a bad situation when you see that this month the Trump administration suspended the strategic dialogue. This is a very serious step. They specifically mentioned Prime Minister Kurti, his statements and actions. And they noted that he had undermined progress, hard-won progress, which had not been achieved for years,” Joseph told Kosovo Online.

He recalled that Kosovo had difficulties even under former US President Joseph Biden, despite the “very friendly” then-US ambassador Jeffrey Hovenier.

“During Biden’s time, there were repeated difficulties with Kurti’s government. And now this continues. And that is not good, especially since Serbia has just launched a strategic dialogue with the United States. So this is not a good situation for Kosovo,” Joseph stressed.

Commenting on the “US tour” of Kosovo’s President Vjosa Osmani and caretaker Prime Minister Albin Kurti, the analyst said he did not know exactly whom they had met with.

“I don’t know about their activities. I can only hope they were all there to advance the interests of the Republic of Kosovo, which is a small country and needs the United States, regardless of who is in office. Kosovo needs the United States as a friend and partner. So I don’t know exactly what their agenda was. I can only hope they were there to advance the interests of the Republic of Kosovo,” Joseph emphasized.

Asked how to interpret the different activities of Osmani and Kurti, Joseph did not rule out “frictions” between the president and the caretaker prime minister.

“Obviously, according to reports, there are certain frictions between the two of them,” he clarified.

Joseph recalled that earlier this year he had the opportunity to host Osmani in Washington.

“And at that time, she met with a senior State Department official, she met with the Deputy Secretary of State because Marco Rubio was out of town. So she made sure to find room and actively worked on opening dialogue between Kosovo and the Trump administration, that is clear,” Joseph said.

Commenting on the suspension of the strategic dialogue, Joseph stressed the need to “face” the fact that “Kosovo is not the only country that has difficulties with the EU and the US.”

“Several countries in the region are in crisis and have difficulties, so it is not just about Kosovo, but Kosovo is one of them. Kosovo now has difficulties, which culminated in the suspension of the strategic dialogue by the United States. But this is not the first time. Kurti’s government had many difficulties under President Biden, even though there was a very friendly US ambassador in Pristina,” Joseph recalled.

As key issues, he pointed to the “lack of coordination” and “Serbia as part of the tensions.”

“Lack of coordination is a phrase we have heard repeatedly. At the same time, we must stress here that Serbia was also part of these tensions with Kosovo, especially in Banjska, as well as with the kidnapping of Kosovo police officers. So we cannot pretend that only one country has difficulties. But the truth is, Kosovo’s image has been damaged, and this is a very serious situation, the suspension of the strategic dialogue with the United States,” Joseph concluded.