A U.S. Department of Defense official confirmed on Thursday that there are no current changes in the deployment of American forces in Kosovo, despite recent media reports suggesting otherwise.
The clarification follows a report by Politico, which cited four NATO diplomats claiming that the United States was seeking to reduce its overseas activity, including its role in the KFOR peacekeeping mission in Kosovo.
In a written response, the U.S. official stated:
“Today, we have no announcements regarding changes to the deployment of forces.”
A NATO spokesperson emphasized that the U.S. continues to play a crucial role in maintaining security and regional stability in Kosovo. Currently, around 600 American troops are engaged in KFOR, leading the Regional Command East, which supports daily operations including patrols, exercises, community engagement, and reconstruction and development projects.
Kosovo’s government and Ministry of Defense have been approached for comment regarding the Politico report and are expected to respond.
According to the report, Washington has reportedly lobbied for a reduction in NATO’s peacekeeping operations in Kosovo, to conclude the mission in Iraq and limit participation by Indo-Pacific allies at the NATO summit in Ankara this July.
The KFOR mission currently consists of 4,767 troops from 33 countries, nearly half of whom are from Italy, the United States, Hungary, and Turkey. This is a significant decrease from the approximately 50,000 troops deployed in 1999 after the Kosovo conflict. Camp Bondsteel, near Ferizaj, remains the largest U.S. military base in the Balkans.
Kosovo regards its alliance with the U.S. as vital for its independence and state-building efforts. KFOR acts as the third security guarantor in Kosovo, alongside the Kosovo Police and the EU Rule of Law Mission (EULEX), and is responsible for maintaining stability along the Kosovo-Serbia border.
