The United States has responded to Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić’s recent remarks about the possibility of changing the course of the Ibar River, stressing that peace and stability in the Western Balkans remain a priority for Washington.
A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department told Radio Free Europe that the normalization of relations between Serbia and Kosovo is an essential part of maintaining regional peace and stability.
“Peace and stability in the Western Balkans are priorities for the United States. Normalization of relations between Serbia and Kosovo is an indispensable part of this process,” the spokesperson said.
Vučić has said Serbian authorities are consulting experts about the possibility of altering the course of the Ibar within Serbian territory. He has linked the proposal to disputes with Kosovo and the treatment of Serbs in northern Kosovo.
The remarks have triggered concern in Kosovo and prompted reactions from the European Union and regional officials. The EU has warned that statements about changing the river’s course do not contribute to the normalization process and stressed that outstanding issues between Belgrade and Prishtina should be addressed through dialogue.
The Ibar is a transboundary river that flows from Montenegro through Serbia and into Kosovo, where it feeds the Gazivode/Ujman reservoir, a key component of Kosovo’s water and energy infrastructure. Any major intervention affecting its flow could therefore have consequences beyond Serbia’s territory.
Kosovo officials have called on international partners, including the United States, the EU and the United Nations, to respond to Vučić’s proposal, arguing that any intervention affecting shared water resources must comply with international obligations and avoid cross-border harm.
Washington’s latest statement places the issue within the broader framework of Serbia-Kosovo normalization, rather than treating the proposed change to the Ibar as solely an internal Serbian matter.
