Radakovic: I do not expect a permanent US base to be established in Kosovo

Dusan Radakovic, executive director of the non-governmental organization Center for Advocacy of Democratic Culture (ACDC), does not consider the possibility of Camp Bondsteel becoming a permanent US base realistic.

Radakovic says NATO is reducing the number of troops in Kosovo, while other factors are also having a negative impact on the possibility of establishing a permanent US base there.

“The financial crisis, Israel and Palestine, the Russia-Ukraine conflict and developments in the oil market are also contributing to the overall crisis. Building large military bases requires billions of dollars, so I do not believe a major base will be built. It is already a significant base for the Americans, but I do not expect a permanent base to be established,” Radakovic said.

He noted that relations between the United States and Kosovo are very poor.

“Relations with the US are generally very poor, and this situation has not arisen recently but has persisted for some time. This is also why the US does not have an ambassador in Kosovo. There is a political dimension to all of this. The new government wants to improve the very, very poor relations with the US that have existed since 1999, with a country that helped create Kosovo. On the other hand, communication is very poor,” Radakovic said.