U.S. Congressman Ritchie Torres has described the White House’s decision to nominate ambassadors for Serbia, Montenegro, and Bosnia and Herzegovina while leaving the ambassadorial post in Kosovo vacant as a “serious mistake.”
In an exclusive response to Gazeta Express, the Democratic congressman called on President Donald Trump’s administration to immediately nominate a U.S. ambassador to Kosovo, emphasizing the country’s importance as a key American ally in the Western Balkans.
“Kosovo is America’s greatest ally in the Western Balkans. It is a serious mistake that the White House nominated ambassadors to Serbia, Montenegro, and Bosnia and Herzegovina while leaving the post in Kosovo vacant. I urge the Trump administration to immediately nominate an ambassador to Kosovo,” Torres told Gazeta Express.
The position has remained vacant since the departure of former U.S. Ambassador to Kosovo, Jeff Hovenier, in 2024. Since then, the U.S. Embassy in Pristina has been led by Chargé d’Affaires Anu Prattipati.
On June 1, the White House announced nominations for ambassadorial posts in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and Montenegro, all of which must still be confirmed by the U.S. Senate.
For Bosnia and Herzegovina, the administration nominated Ronald Johnson, a retired U.S. Marine Corps brigadier general from Massachusetts, to serve as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary.
For Serbia, Michael Young of Utah was nominated. Young previously served in the U.S. Department of State during the administration of President George H. W. Bush, holding several senior positions related to trade, environmental affairs, and economic policy.
Meanwhile, Peter McCoy of South Carolina was nominated as ambassador to Montenegro. McCoy previously served as U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina and has an extensive legal and prosecutorial background.
The United States has also already nominated an ambassador to Albania, further highlighting Kosovo’s absence from the latest round of diplomatic appointments.
The issue comes amid a period of strained relations between Kosovo and the United States. During the Trump administration, with Marco Rubio leading the State Department, Washington suspended its planned Strategic Dialogue with Kosovo over concerns regarding actions taken by Kosovo authorities in the north of the country.
In a statement issued on September 12, 2025, the United States announced the indefinite suspension of the Strategic Dialogue, citing concerns that government actions had increased tensions and instability, limiting Washington’s ability to work productively with Kosovo on shared priorities.
Despite these disagreements, Torres’ comments underscore continued support for Kosovo among influential members of the U.S. Congress, who view the country as one of Washington’s closest partners in the Western Balkans.
