Kupchan: Trump Wants to Give More Responsibility to Europeans, No Forecast for U.S. Military Withdrawal from Kosovo or Europe

The stance of U.S. Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, on the U.S. approach to the Ukraine conflict and its role in European security, which is expected to be reduced, has raised significant concerns and reactions. Alarm has been sounded for the Western Balkans, including Kosovo and Bosnia, due to ongoing issues with Serbia.

However, American professor and former advisor to Barack Obama during his presidency, Charles Kupchan, stated that he does not expect this new political approach under the Trump administration to have an impact on the Western Balkans. According to Kupchan, fortunately, there is no war in the region, and Trump is focused on ending the war in Ukraine.

“No, I don’t see any immediate implications for U.S. policy in the Western Balkans. Trump wants to end the war in Ukraine, and Hegseth outlined some of Washington’s initial assumptions. Fortunately, there is no war in the Balkans that Trump is trying to mediate,” Kupchan said.

Regarding the warnings about a reduction of U.S. troops in Europe and the possibility of a troop reduction in Kosovo, Kupchan mentioned that he doesn’t foresee a U.S. withdrawal from Europe or Kosovo, but rather anticipates that the U.S. will place more responsibility on European allies.

“Trump is inclined to ease the U.S. defense role in Europe and see the Europeans take on more responsibility for their own defense. I don’t foresee a U.S. withdrawal from Kosovo or Europe, but I expect more responsibilities to be handed over to European allies,” said the American professor to Express.

As for the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia and the possibility of Trump pressuring both countries to find a solution involving territorial modifications, Kupchan stated that he does not believe such an initiative will come from Washington, although he adds that if Kosovo and Serbia wish it themselves, the U.S. would not stand in their way.

“Trump is quite transactional and would not insist on principles if territorial adjustments appear to offer a good chance for normalizing relations between Kosovo and Serbia,” Kupchan stated.

At the end of the interview, when asked what advice he would give to the Kosovar leadership given this new American approach, Kupchan advised that the dialogue with Serbia should return to the right path and that Kosovo should not be seen as an obstacle, as this would further damage relations with the U.S.

“My advice is that the dialogue with Serbia should return to the right path. If Trump and his advisors, including Rick Grenell, see Prishtina as an obstacle to progress, relations with Washington are likely to suffer,” concluded American professor, Charles Kupchan.