U.S. State Department: The U.S.-Serbia Energy Agreement is in the Interest of the Western Balkans

The U.S.-Serbia strategic partnership in the field of energy does not harm the interests of any country in the region but is instead in the interest of the entire Western Balkans, according to a U.S. State Department spokesperson.

"This agreement does not harm the interests of any other country in the region. On the contrary, we believe that it is in the interest of all Western Balkan countries to diversify and expand their energy sources," the spokesperson told Gazeta Express when asked if the agreement would harm the interests of Kosovo.

The strategic energy cooperation agreement between Serbia and the U.S. was signed a few days ago in Washington by Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Djuric and U.S. Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment, Jose W. Fernandez.

During the signing, Djuric emphasized that by concluding the agreement, Serbia had taken an important and responsible step towards enhancing its partnership with the U.S. and made significant progress towards ensuring long-term energy security.

The State Department spokesperson noted that the agreement would expand opportunities for U.S. companies to invest in Serbia's energy sector.

When asked whether a similar agreement was expected with Kosovo, the spokesperson responded that the U.S. offers unwavering support, including cooperation on the development of green energy sources, highlighting assistance through USAID and the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) to unlock $236 million in financing for a major battery project in the region.

"The long-standing and unwavering support for Kosovo includes the development of its green energy sources, such as USAID’s assistance for Kosovo’s first solar energy auction. In April of this year, an agreement between the MCC and the Government of Kosovo was signed, unlocking a $236 million grant to finance the largest battery storage facility in the region," the State Department spokesperson recalled.