As the divide between the United States and Europe grows, Kosovo also faces a defining moment: Where to look for support? With challenges ahead - from dialogue with Serbia to membership in international organizations - experts suggest it strengthen ties with the EU and allies beyond the West.
In the last four weeks, the US sent a message to Europe not to count on its protection forever, Europeans spoke of the need for "independence" in security and expressed concern about the future of NATO, there were diplomatic clashes in the Oval Office between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Washington stopped military aid to Kiev and suspended intelligence sharing with it...
In Kosovo, for almost four weeks, votes were counted - the votes cast for the parliamentary elections of February 9. The process of counting them began that night and did not end until March 5.
The issue is no longer about this delay, but about the question that remains unanswered: Who and when will form the new government?
While world events unfold rapidly one after another, political leaders in Kosovo appear to have entered into a bargaining chip with each other for parliamentary seats.
The only thing they say for sure is that for the critical processes ahead - from the dialogue with Serbia to Kosovo's membership in international organizations - they will continue to rely on the US and the EU.
"We are part of continental Europe, while in relation to the United States of America, strategic partnership has always been a pillar of our orientation," Mimoza Kusari-Lila, head of the Parliamentary Group of the Vetëvendosje Movement - currently in power, tells Radio Free Europe's Expose program.
"There are challenges with the new American administration - ones that are also seen globally - but we stand by the same strategic values and principles," she adds.
Enver Hoxhaj, from the Democratic Party of Kosovo, which came second in the February 9 elections, after Vetëvendosje, says that for foreign policy, Kosovo's first address should be the United States, then Brussels, Berlin, Paris and Rome.
"But what Kosovo needs at this time is to understand that the international order that created an independent Kosovo no longer exists," he says.
"It is a new international order, where Kosovo should be strategically located," Hoxhaj assesses.
And, the third largest party in Kosovo - the Democratic League of Kosovo - says that the country must play smart so as not to be affected by the reorganization of international diplomacy.
"Although there may be differences in opinions and positions between the US and Europe, Kosovo does not have the luxury of choosing between these parties," according to Besian Mustafa from this party.
In the EU, since the end of last year, there has been new leadership, which has expressed support for Kosovo's European integration, but has reiterated that this journey depends on the normalization of relations with Serbia, which is still far away.
Even in the US, since the beginning of this year, there has been a new administration led by President Donald Trump, who has pledged to expand ties with Kosovo.
However, observers say that the events of recent weeks have shown that the focus can change rapidly, so Kosovo must adapt to a world where alliances are in flux and nothing is guaranteed.
Romana Vlahutin, from the German Marshall Fund of the United States, says that the position of the Western Balkans in US foreign policy is not secure. According to her, Kosovo should focus on strengthening partnerships with European countries and with the EU itself.
The EU has had several punitive measures in place against Kosovo since 2023, due to tensions in its north. Since 2022, the bloc has not even considered Kosovo's application for membership.
Asked whether Kosovo could be supported in such an EU - with 27 different members - Vlahutin says:
"Indeed, it is not in the EU's interest to have any open crisis on the European continent. It is absolutely in the EU's interest for the Western Balkans to be secure and stable. And in this context, I think that Kosovo's interests and the EU's interests are the same."
For Tefta Kelmendi from the European Council on Foreign Relations, Kosovo needs to rework its relations with the EU and key member states, such as France, KosovaPress reports.
The transatlantic rift, she says, has serious implications for wider European security, and Kosovo, being in a grey area without full international recognition, is particularly vulnerable.
Kelmendi believes that this is a critical time for the EU to increase its support for Kosovo, but says that Kosovo must also be more pragmatic and flexible and adapt quickly to uncertainties.
"Kosovo must play smart and constructively. It is high time for it to engage constructively in dialogue with Serbia, to begin implementing agreements to normalize relations with it, and to pave the way for itself to join the EU."
"Of course, this does not only apply to Kosovo. The EU should also put pressure on Serbia to move in the right direction," says Kelmendi.
She adds that it is extremely important for Kosovo to diversify its international alliances and partnerships. In particular, she says that Kosovo must truly understand Turkey's important role in the world and use its partnership with it to capitalize on its own goals.
"Turkey remains a very important security and defense partner for the region. Recently, there has also been an improvement in relations between it and the EU. Therefore, Kosovo should use this as an advantage and seek Turkey's help to convince states that do not recognize it to recognize it. So, in each case, Kosovo's partnership with states outside the EU and outside the US is also important for achieving diplomatic goals," Kelmendi assesses.
Vlahutin agrees that Turkey is a valuable ally for Kosovo, which can help it strengthen its international position.
"I think the European Union will have to get closer to Turkey. Turkey is a serious military power and can do a lot of good in the region. If I were in Kosovo, I would be in contact with Ankara," says Vlahutin, who has served as EU ambassador to Albania.
Kosovo is the only country in the Western Balkans that is not a candidate for EU membership.
Tense relations with Serbia have also hindered other processes, such as membership in Interpol, UNESCO, the Council of Europe, and so on.
In recent years, the government of Prime Minister Albin Kurti has been particularly criticized by American officials, due to several decisions that have been seen as uncoordinated and with a negative impact on the livelihoods of the Serbian community in Kosovo.
Kelmendi does not rule out the possibility that Kosovo will face increased pressure from the United States to ensure greater autonomy for Serb-majority municipalities.
"We can only look at what is happening with Ukraine and imagine what could happen with Kosovo. It may have to make very difficult concessions in relation to Serbia, or the municipalities in the north of the country," says Kelmendi.
For Vlahutin, these are situations that you simply "cannot cope with if you are not united" and that require "a lot of work, a lot of communication, a lot of dialogue and a lot of friends and partners."
She believes that the best option for Kosovo is for political leaders to come together, to ensure the inclusion of all groups in the management of important processes.
"In challenging moments, national unity is of great importance," says Vlahutin.
"The only thing that gives me hope at this time is the way Europe has come together. I feel like the United Kingdom has also fully returned to the EU," she adds.
The President of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, who has a leading role in the country's foreign policy, constantly reiterates the importance of international partnerships for the development and stability of Kosovo.
Analysts say these pledges must go beyond mere rhetoric and be translated into tangible actions and measurable progress.
Political leaders are likely continuing discussions about forming the next government - who with whom and how much - but the world is moving fast and does not stop for anyone. /Kosovapress (A2 Televizion)
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