By Ben Andoni
The way Albania and Kosovo are observing recent international developments genuinely reflects how our institutions perceive reality and how politics envisions the future. The excitement within the Democratic Party (PD) knows no bounds after securing one of Trump’s key figures, Chris LaCivita, for the May 2025 elections. The narrative created by the Democrats regarding Berisha’s non-grata status and everything else has been completely forgotten. Meanwhile, the Socialist Party (PS) camp is in turmoil, as the Special Anti-Corruption Structure (SPAK) is striking hard within their ranks. The arrest of Mayor Veliaj overshadowed all other news, while Europe and Kosovo held their breath for the Munich Security Conference. Meanwhile, the Kosovan delegation publicized every meeting, the most notable one being with the American general dealing with Gaza. However, Trump’s greeting for Kosovo’s Independence Day released a lot of positive energy.
In reality, European officials are shaken. The American delegation, in its first official high-level confrontation in Munich, displayed coldness and cynicism regarding the new perspective that Trump has foreshadowed with his statements. As expected, the presence of U.S. military forces in Europe was the central theme of the Security Conference, where U.S. Vice President JD Vance presented the new vision. A few hours earlier, NATO’s European allies had received the message from Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, who, on Friday in Warsaw, warned allies that the U.S. military presence in Europe would not “last forever.” However, in Albania, these developments are seen as a mere “curiosity” or a show of force against Europe, which many Albanians like to portray as a “tough game,” whereas in Kosovo, all focus is on forming the Kurti-3 government.
The most concerning issue for Albanians at this moment is not Berisha’s non-grata status or Rama’s maneuvers with Sazan Island for Jared Kushner but rather the future of Kosovo. Since the February 9, 2025, elections, there has been no official interest in the results, despite the fact that the election process left much to be desired, with issues in the Central Election Commission’s (CEC) system, organizational flaws, and Prime Minister Kurti’s choice of words towards opposition leaders—who are now vying for power—calling them “hajvanët” (a derogatory term meaning fools). President Osmani, who has spent much of this time abroad, has tried to secure international support, while Kurti and Gërvalla sought visibility in Munich. However, they were completely overshadowed by the harsh realities shaking the entire continent. NATO Secretary-General Rutte provided some breathing space by supporting U.S. policy on increasing contributions to the alliance, but he could not offer clarity on what would happen to countries directly threatened by attacks—such as Kosovo in the future. Meanwhile, Vučić openly shows his interests and has recently suggested that USAID created problems for Serbia, despite the fact that the organization has significantly aided Kosovo. The Serbian president’s cynical calculation seems well thought out, as he aims to maintain support from both the U.S. and Russia. This is not an irrational choice.
Kosovo, one of the most pro-American countries in the world, must now also account for the 90-day freeze on USAID funds (as American authorities labeled the agency a criminal organization) as well as the even more concerning issue of the 600 U.S. troops stationed in Kosovo. These troops have played a crucial role in quelling unrest in the north and have served as a security buffer for both the Albanian and Serbian communities. However, reality is stubborn: President Donald Trump wants to withdraw 20,000 troops from Europe, reported ANSA a few days ago, as part of a reassessment of Washington’s commitment to Europe. And he didn’t stop there—he also stated that “…of those who remain, he would like financial contributions from European countries because these soldiers act as deterrents, and the costs cannot be borne solely by American taxpayers!”
Currently, around 100,000 U.S. troops are deployed in Europe, with over 65,000 permanently stationed on the continent, while the rest rotate in and out. In truth, Europeans are already aware of the U.S. stance, as during Trump’s first term in 2020, he announced the withdrawal of 12,000 troops from Germany in response to Berlin’s failure to meet NATO defense spending targets. A few months later, President Joe Biden officially suspended the planned troop withdrawal from Germany.
Looking back, Kosovo now faces European-imposed sanctions, strained relations with its strategic allies and Brussels, the uncertainty of American developments (such as troop reductions or withdrawals), and the country’s economic situation. Therefore, whoever forms the government must acknowledge that Kosovo will face many unknowns that it cannot handle alone unless it establishes clear red lines where political actors unite on key national issues. During the campaign, discussions on the Serbia dialogue were weak and superficial, and there was little focus on how to approach it. It seems forgotten that much work is needed to change the perception voiced by former U.S. Ambassador Hovenier when he stated: “We are facing different challenges with the current government, which differs from our past relationships with previous governments.”
Kosovo, with a population of 1.6 million, remains one of Europe’s poorest countries, with a GDP per capita of less than €6,000 per year. Considering U.S. investments—over $2 billion since 1999, including more than $1 billion from USAID (as of September 2023)—and a 2025 budget of just €3.6 billion, its importance becomes evident. Kosovo still lacks clarity on what will be articulated by the new officials at the U.S. State Department, especially Secretary of Defense Hegseth, who speaks Trump’s military language and startled the continent when he informed allies in Brussels that the U.S. agrees with some of Russia’s key demands, even before negotiations with Ukraine have begun—an indication that Europe and Kyiv are of little significance to Washington.
Among the few European officials who “surprised” observers was Prime Minister Rama, who stated in Munich: “Trump’s election is God’s most generous act toward the EU, giving Europe a chance to wake up. Europe must first stop being so self-referential.”
However, in Kosovo and Albania, this statement was barely a whisper from a small prime minister, while in Brussels, NATO officials were left dumbfounded by Hegseth’s harsh words: “Make no mistake, President Trump will not allow anyone to turn Uncle Sam into Uncle Suckler.” Bitter words, but Kosovo too seems to be facing days full of unpredictability. (Homo Albanicus)
