Former U.S. Ambassador to Serbia Christopher Hill said Sunday, in a interview with Radio Free Europe, that the United States is unlikely to intervene directly in resolving disputes in the Western Balkans, including the ongoing dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia. Hill emphasized that the region no longer occupies a high priority in Washington’s foreign policy agenda, and regional actors must take greater ownership of their own issues.
Speaking at the GLOBSEC 2025 Bratislava Forum, a high-level security and policy conference held in Prague this year due to logistical changes, Hill said U.S. diplomatic efforts are now more focused on other global crises.
“We’re not in the 1990s anymore. People are tired of listening to complaints about neighbors. What we need are models of regional cooperation,” Hill told a panel of security experts and diplomats. “Washington is looking at different theaters—Ukraine, the Middle East, China—and the Balkans is no longer at the top of the list.”
U.S. Focus Elsewhere
Hill noted that the Biden administration, and likely future ones, are placing strategic emphasis on the war in Ukraine, increasing tensions in the Indo-Pacific, and instability in the Middle East. The shift in priorities has implications for U.S. involvement in longstanding issues in Southeastern Europe.
“There are simply too many global challenges requiring urgent attention,” Hill said. “That doesn’t mean we’re abandoning the region, but we are adjusting our expectations.”
While U.S. envoys and officials will continue to engage with Balkan leaders, Hill suggested that hands-on mediation—such as the Dayton Accords model of the 1990s—is no longer viable or politically sustainable.
European Union’s “Unfinished Business”
Hill, a veteran diplomat with extensive Balkan experience, said the responsibility for conflict resolution and democratic reform now lies increasingly with the European Union. He described the region as “unfinished business” for the EU and called on Brussels to increase its political and economic engagement.
“The European Union has work to do in the Western Balkans,” Hill said. “It needs to follow through with enlargement policies and integration strategies, not just offer rhetorical support.”
He added that the credibility of the EU’s enlargement process is being tested by stagnation in countries like Bosnia-Herzegovina and political tensions between Kosovo and Serbia.
Kosovo-Serbia Dialogue at a Standstill
On the stalled dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, Hill acknowledged the central role of the so-called Association of Serb-Majority Municipalities—a controversial provision agreed to in prior talks but yet to be implemented by Kosovo.
“It’s time for Kosovo to move forward with its commitments, particularly on the Association,” Hill said. “It’s not just about diplomacy—it’s about legal and institutional integrity.”
Hill also cautioned that while Serbia continues to draw criticism over its ties to Russia, it has notably supported Ukraine’s sovereignty in key international forums—a fact not lost on U.S. policymakers.
“We see Serbia aligning with Ukraine on some key votes. That matters to us,” he said. “But that doesn’t mean we’re turning our backs on Kosovo.”
Regional Self-Reliance Emphasized
Hill said future U.S. engagement will be supportive, but not directive. The Biden administration and likely successors, he said, want to see more regional ownership of peace-building, governance reforms and democratic processes.
“People in the region need to take responsibility,” Hill said. “America will be there as a partner—but not to micromanage.”
The former ambassador emphasized that while investment, security partnerships, and diplomatic support would continue, Washington no longer aims to dominate the Balkan peace process.
“We’ll still have interests in the Balkans—economic, strategic, diplomatic. But we’re not going to hold everyone’s hand every step of the way.”
Domestic Gridlock in Kosovo
Hill also acknowledged the current political uncertainty in Kosovo, where a new government is still being formed following recent elections. While he refrained from offering direct criticism, Hill underscored the importance of resolving institutional questions internally.
“Kosovo needs to sort out its own political situation,” he said. “That’s not something the U.S. can or should dictate.”
Despite growing international impatience, Hill said the moment should be seen as an opportunity for Kosovo to strengthen its democratic institutions.
In closing, Hill said the Western Balkans is still a region in transition, but one that has the capacity to move forward—if its leaders choose maturity over nationalism.
“The international community can only do so much,” Hill said. “The rest is up to the people and governments of the Balkans.”
He reiterated that U.S. engagement will remain, but in a guiding rather than commanding role.
“The U.S. isn’t walking away,” Hill said. “But the region must learn to walk on its own.”