Velebit: Joining the US gas project would not necessarily bring greater political support for Pristina

According to Vuk Velebit, president of the Pupin Initiative, if Kosovo were to join the US gas project, it could also bring a greater degree of political support from the United States to Pristina, but not necessarily, since the administration of Donald Trump is more focused on achieving concrete agreements that do not necessarily have to be accompanied by political backing.

Velebit believes that Albin Kurti’s administration has demonstrated a very hostile attitude toward the United States and that Donald Trump is well aware that Kurti was more supportive of the Democrats and Kamala Harris.

“I am not sure that this administration in Washington will simply make a turn toward Kurti. I find it more plausible that the Americans will work to support the creation of an alternative that could replace Albin Kurti,” Velebit told Kosovo Online.

He explained that by investing in gas pipelines, the Trump administration is demonstrating a pragmatic approach toward the region, with a clear policy of reducing the region’s energy dependence on Russia or other actors that could have a negative influence.

“As far as Europe, and therefore our region, is concerned, energy diversification and, from the perspective of US interests, American liquefied natural gas are of crucial importance to the United States. We recently saw this at the Three Seas Initiative Summit in Dubrovnik, where major investments were announced. We have seen it in Poland, and we are now seeing it in Bosnia and Herzegovina. That is why I believe the discussion surrounding Kosovo is an integral part of a broader American strategy and idea that the United States wants to have a stronger energy presence in the region,” our interlocutor said.

The arrival of American natural gas in Kosovo, in his view, would provide stability in supply, while, on the other hand, it is important for Washington to create business opportunities for the United States together with its allies.

“That would be in America’s interest, but it would also be in the interest of the citizens living in Kosovo and Metohija, as they would have a stable gas supply. Just as the entire region is pursuing energy diversification, no country should ever again find itself dependent on only one partner when it comes to the supply of gas or other energy sources,” Velebit concluded.