Kosovo’s President Vjosa Osmani is set to meet with Louis L. Bono, a senior official in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs at the U.S. Department of State, marking her as the first Kosovar leader to meet a Trump Administration official.
According to the State Department’s website, the meeting is scheduled for 9:30 AM in Washington, D.C. However, the Kosovo Presidency has not issued an official statement regarding the visit or Osmani’s travel to the U.S.
Political Context
Osmani’s visit comes two days after Richard Grenell, former U.S. envoy for Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, stated that the U.S. needs reliable partners in the Balkans, implying that Kosovo’s Prime Minister Albin Kurti is not among them.
Grenell’s statement on X (formerly Twitter) emphasized that both Republicans and Democrats have criticized Kurti for unilateral actions that destabilize the region, adding that the EU and NATO share this stance.
Osmani’s meeting at the State Department could signal a shift in Washington’s approach toward Kosovo, as the Trump Administration resumes direct engagement with Balkan leaders.