Jason Steinbaum, former Staff Director of the US House Foreign Affairs Committee and longtime chief of staff to Congressman Eliot Engel, a position he held for 30 consecutive years, says turning Camp Bondsteel into a permanent US military base could help preserve American influence in Kosovo and the wider region.
He also believes such a move could improve relations between Washington and Pristina, particularly if Kosovo offered the United States preferential terms for the use of the land.
Steinbaum described Bondsteel as important to KFOR, the United States and the region, noting that the camp’s primary role is to provide logistical support.
“US presence in Kosovo provides intelligence, communications capabilities and other forms of support whose importance extends beyond the number of American troops deployed in the area. We have between 500 and 600 soldiers out of approximately 4,500 KFOR personnel. That represents between 10 and 15 percent of the overall force. From the American perspective, this constitutes a fair sharing of the burden.
“Nevertheless, a permanent base at Camp Bondsteel could play a very important role in preserving American influence, as well as the stability and security we seek to ensure in the region, if the camp were granted permanent military installation status,” Steinbaum told the Serbian-language outlet Kossev.
A Change in US Troop Composition Would Not Alter KFOR’s Mission
Commenting on the change in the composition of US forces in Kosovo — specifically, the deployment of active-duty troops instead of National Guard personnel — Steinbaum described it as an operational adjustment.
“In reality, this should not change the way the forces operate, which is important for maintaining security, stability and freedom of movement for people throughout Kosovo. Nor would it change the situation regarding Serbia, which, as we all know, has its own plans concerning Kosovo. Nevertheless, KFOR’s presence serves as a deterrent,” the US expert said.
Steinbaum argued that Belgrade should not be concerned about the possibility of Bondsteel becoming a permanent American base.
“KFOR has been present at Camp Bondsteel for several decades, so I consider the claim that establishing a permanent base could affect Serbia or intimidate it in any way to be an artificially manufactured concern.
“Nevertheless, our presence there has, I repeat, an exceptionally significant impact on regional stability and security. The United States is the most important actor in Kosovo. We are the most important international actor and have the greatest influence over the government there. This influence is not limited to diplomacy; it also extends to security matters,” Steinbaum said.
He stressed that the United States provides training and ensures coordination with Kosovo’s security institutions.
“Kosovo’s security services have even participated alongside us in international peacekeeping missions. This represents a significant presence in a country that offers very strong support to the United States. Therefore, maintaining this base is positive for both the United States and the region,” he said.
Could a Permanent Bondsteel Base Improve Kosovo-US Relations?
Asked whether a potentially permanent base could help improve relations between Kosovo and the United States following the suspension of their strategic dialogue, Steinbaum said the suspension should not have happened, but that a move towards a permanent US presence could have a positive impact.
“I consider the suspension of the strategic dialogue between Kosovo and the United States to have been a mistake. It should not have happened. I hope that, with the new government in Pristina, the dialogue will gain momentum again and resume.
“Frankly, the United States has never imposed criteria or conditions concerning the suspension of its strategic dialogue with Kosovo, while continuing its strategic dialogue with Serbia — a country that raises numerous strategic and security concerns because of its relations with Russia and China. For this reason, I have some reservations about this policy.
“Nevertheless, the essence of your question is whether a long-term presence, specifically the stationing of American forces at Camp Bondsteel, could affect our relations with Kosovo. The answer is yes. It certainly could, particularly if Kosovo were to offer the United States preferential terms for the use of the land,” Steinbaum said.
