A group of US congressmen led by Michael Turner and Jaene Shaheen have sent a letter to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressing their deep concern about the possibility of reducing US troops in Kosovo. According to them, this would be a message to external factors with destabilizing intentions such as Russia to disturb the region, especially Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
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"At a time of heightened political fragility and rising malign influences in the Western Balkans, a reduction in the US presence risks destabilizing not only Kosovo but the broader region," the letter states, calling on the State Department to maintain the current level of US forces to protect US national security interests in the region.
According to them, any reduction in American military personnel would weaken not only the operational capacities of the peacekeeping force, but also KFOR's role as a key preventive factor for maintaining peace and stability in Kosovo.
The letter also notes that tensions between communities in northern Kosovo remain high, while the lack of progress in the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina makes the presence of international forces even more important.
Regarding this letter from the American congressmen and the concerns raised in it, the US Department of State spoke in a response to Gazeta Express. Washington said that they do not comment on the letter that the congressmen sent to Secretary Marco Rubio.
"We do not comment on Congressional correspondence," a State Department spokesperson told Gazeta Express.
The US is one of the countries with the largest military contribution to KFOR with around 600 soldiers.
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