Prime Minister Albin Kurti may face similar pressures to those on the Ukrainian president from Donald Trump, but he is in an even more unfavorable position than Zelensky. He does not have the full support of the EU, or Great Britain, and has faced constant criticism. This is the opinion of professor and expert on foreign policy and Balkan affairs, Edward Joseph. In an interview given earlier, the expert does not rule out the possibility of the withdrawal of US troops from KFOR, but says that Donald Trump must face the problems that will come from such a decision.
We follow part of Joseph's statement to A2 CNN journalist Rosalba Bejdo, while the full interview, where he scans American foreign policy, the war and the consequences for Europe, can be followed on Sunday at 7:30 PM , on the international news channel.
Part of Edward Joseph's interview with A2 CNN
A2 CNN journalist Rosalba Bejdo: Prime Minister Kurti, who has won the elections again, has not had such good relations with Trump. Officials in his administration, such as Richard Grenell, have sharply criticized him. Considering that Kosovo remains in an unresolved conflict with Serbia, should we expect pressure on Kurti, as in the case of Zelensky, to push towards a deal?
Edward Joseph: Yes! 100 percent yes, is the answer to the question. Now, will it be pressure to reach an agreement, or something else, I cannot say. We cannot know the exact demands. But if Prime Minister Kurti returns as Prime Minister, then he, and everyone in Kosovo should expect very high pressure from the Trump administration. Prime Minister Kurti may face the same treatment that Trump reserved for Zelensky. And Prime Minister Kurti is not in the same position as Zelensky. The Ukrainian president has great European support, he has great support from the United Kingdom. Prime Minister Kurti does not have this support. There is opposition and criticism for Prime Minister Kurti. From the European Union and from the United Kingdom. We must also understand that Prime Minister Kurti also had criticism from the previous administration in the US, that of Biden. So this is not something that has to do only with Donald Trump. This has to do with the frustration in all these Western countries with the leadership of Prime Minister Kurti, in addition to the problems they have with Serbia. I accept that. Serbia is provocative and under the leadership of President Vučić, has taken clear steps to provoke and destabilize the situation, and I accept that. At the same time, Prime Minister Kurti has unnecessarily provoked the situation in northern Kosovo and has not fulfilled his responsibility as Prime Minister of all the citizens of Kosovo. He has not fulfilled this towards the Serbs, who are citizens of Kosovo and whom Prime Minister Kurti should be trying to pull away from Belgrade, instead of exerting pressure by making them look towards Belgrade and not Pristina.
A2 CNN journalist Rosalba Bejdo: Do you think Trump could push through an agreement that could include territorial swaps?
Edward Joseph: That's a fair question. It's a reasonable question. And certainly a question that needs to be asked. But we don't know the answer to that question. The answer to that question would be what risks the Trump administration would be willing to take if it were to propose a land swap. Because the administration would be taking very high risks in Bosnia and Herzegovina, because Milorad Dodik would certainly benefit from that. He's in a bad place right now with the recent conviction and the crisis in Bosnia, and we've seen President Vučić travel to Banja Luka to show his support for him. So if there's a land swap there, what would stop Milorad Dodik from moving forward with his goals. That problem would then go to the doors of the Trump administration, and the question for him and his advisors would be, do you want these problems?
A2 CNN journalist Rosalba Bejdo: Do you see any risk that the US could withdraw its troops from KFOR, and what would that mean for security?
Edward Joseph: My answer would be very similar. With Donald Trump, you can't rule anything out. He said in his speech that Greenland will one day become part of the United States. He suggested this in his speech to Congress this week. So if he says that about Greenland, can he move troops out of Kosovo? Well, he's Donald Trump. We don't know what he can do. But the question remains, do he want the consequences of such an action? That's the question. For the US, keeping troops in Kosovo doesn't have huge costs. So that's the question for Donald Trump. Does he want the problems that come with these decisions? (A2 Televizion)
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