Moore: The United States remains committed to NATO, KFOR important for Kosovo and the region

American diplomat and former ambassador Jonathan Moore stated for Kosovo Online that the United States remains committed to NATO and assessed that the KFOR mission will continue, as it is important both for Kosovo and for the wider region.

Moore emphasized that NATO is the most successful security organization in history and noted that while the United States has long been the largest contributor to the Alliance, other member states are now expected to increase their contributions.
“Democratic and Republican administrations alike, including of course President Donald Trump, have been very clear that NATO members must contribute more—both in terms of their own defense budgets and in terms of forces allocated to NATO operations, missions, and bases. The United States is, of course, conducting a comprehensive review of everything it does with its armed forces, led by the Pentagon and the White House, and part of that includes examining where we have troops and where we do not. I believe the key issue is not the exact number, nor whether it increases or decreases. The fact is that the United States hosts NATO, remains committed to NATO, and that will continue—whether it involves 10 soldiers or 10,000,” he said.

Commenting on reports of a possible U.S. withdrawal from Kosovo, Moore stated that NATO will maintain its presence while the United States reviews the regions of the world to which it should devote its resources.
“I do not know what the final decisions will be, but the essence will be that NATO will retain its presence. KFOR is extremely important—for the entire region, for Kosovo’s neighbors, and for Kosovo itself. If you look at Albania and North Macedonia, both NATO members; Montenegro in NATO; Greece in NATO—this is a fundamental structure that will remain unchanged. People are speculating and, frankly, overinterpreting. There is debate about where the United States has ambassadors and where it does not. The fact is that we have embassies. We maintain the same global diplomatic network, with professional diplomats and ambassadors serving as representatives of the President around the world. This is not about Kosovo. This is not about the Balkans. This is about a broader reassessment taking place in the United States to determine where we should allocate our forces, talents, and resources,” Moore stated.

He noted that the number of U.S. troops in Kosovo is not large and that forces from other countries remain on the ground, even if adjustments are made to U.S. deployments.
“We do not have a large number of troops on the ground in Kosovo. Again, even if that number were reduced by some factor, NATO remains present. Italian forces are there. Turkish forces are there and will continue to be there. People should not focus on perceived advantages or disadvantages. They should understand that the commitment to NATO, which the United States strongly supports, will not change,” Moore told Kosovo Online.
He pointed out that President Trump has raised questions regarding the U.S. defense budget spent abroad but stressed that this does not alter Washington’s commitment to NATO.
“It is very clear that under President Trump there is a comprehensive review of our defense budget, defense expenditures, and resources, addressing challenges worldwide. President Trump may make different decisions, as others have in the past, and the world recognizes and understands that. But again, I must emphasize the fundamental commitment to NATO, and NATO’s role is very clear,” he said.
Moore also expressed hope that the political situation in Kosovo will stabilize and that Kosovo will fulfill its obligations toward neighboring states.
“ Kosovo aspires to become a NATO member. In the hope that it achieves political stability and a functioning government—rather than another round of elections in March—it should focus on its responsibilities toward its neighbors and toward NATO member states, seeking improved diplomatic relations and at least some form of agreement with its neighbors, including Serbia. That would then provide an opportunity, perhaps in the future, for a political decision enabling it to move toward NATO membership. But the essential point is that, despite adjustments and discussions, the fundamental commitments to NATO remain strong,” Moore concluded.