Davor Ivo Stier, the head of the European Parliament delegation for relations with Kosovo and Bosnia-Herzegovina, has stated that the new U.S. administration may not prioritize the Western Balkans, with its main focus shifting to China and the Indo-Pacific region. He also noted that the U.S. would likely pay attention to the Middle East and the Black Sea region, particularly in light of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.
In an interview with Info Magazine on Klan Kosova, Stier emphasized, “They will also have attention on the Middle East and the Black Sea, especially regarding Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. At this moment, the Western Balkans does not seem to be a priority.”
However, Stier is confident that U.S. policy toward the Western Balkans will remain consistent. “I believe that the United States, not only has been a strong supporter but will continue to be a major supporter of independent Kosovo. This is something I understood from my meetings with all the interlocutors I had in Washington last week.”
Stier further stressed that the stability of the Western Balkans has always been stronger when transatlantic allies work together. “The EU and the U.S., the new European Commission, and the upcoming U.S. administration, will have a lot to discuss and many common interests. One of the areas where we can speak with one voice is supporting the stability and Euro-Atlantic perspective of the Balkans. I look forward to this cooperation. I believe that people such as Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, who were involved during President Trump’s administration, are committed to the Transatlantic Alliance, and the cooperation will be easier,” concluded Davor Ivo Stier.
