During his visit to the United States, Kosovo’s acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti addressed the reasons behind Washington’s recent decision to suspend the planned Strategic Dialogue with Kosovo. Speaking in a candid discussion, Kurti clarified that the suspension, announced by the U.S. on September 12, is directly linked to Kosovo’s enforcement of the rule of law in the northern region, predominantly inhabited by ethnic Serbs.
Kurti emphasized that his government cannot compromise on the principle of law enforcement. “The reason for the suspension of the planned Strategic Dialogue is because of the rule of law in northern Kosovo, which acted against illegal Serbian structures. This is not something I can compromise on. I cannot leave this problem to your generation. I believe my generation must resolve it,” Kurti said.
The Prime Minister outlined the multifaceted nature of the Kosovo-U.S. relationship, describing it as “three-dimensional,” including defense, development, and diplomacy. While he noted that the first two pillars—defense and development—do not pose issues, he admitted that diplomatic interactions have faced obstacles.
“In diplomacy, we face some challenges because, in my view, the U.S. considers it crucial to distance Serbia from the Eastern Hemisphere. Serbia maintains close ties with Moscow, and because we are steadfast in upholding the rule of law, democracy, state sovereignty, and territorial integrity, some U.S. politicians and diplomats believe we are not helping Washington in its efforts to detach Serbia from the Russian Federation. Honestly, this should not be my problem,” Kurti said, underlining that his duty is to represent Kosovo’s interests.
The U.S. Embassy in Kosovo, explaining the suspension, pointed to actions by the acting government that “increased tensions and instability, limiting the United States’ ability to work productively with Kosovo on shared priorities.” The Embassy stated, “Unfortunately, the recent actions and statements by Acting Prime Minister Kurti have presented challenges to the progress achieved over the years,” without specifying which statements or actions were referenced.
Kurti stressed that as a Prime Minister, he cannot instruct Kosovo Police to refrain from arresting a criminal caught in the act merely to avoid criticism from Brussels or Washington. “And I appear very differently from my predecessors. This is a curse from my predecessors, who were too lenient. I am normal, but I appear extreme. This is because my predecessors were not normal,” Kurti explained.
Despite the suspension, Kurti highlighted that the differences between Kosovo and the U.S. lie in tactics and actions, not in shared values, interests, or principles. “There are differences in how we approach certain situations, but we are not broken with America,” he stated on September 19.
The recent tension follows Kosovo’s enforcement measures in northern municipalities, where institutions operating according to the Serbian system have been closed. Kosovo considers these parallel structures illegal. In recent weeks, operations of the Health Insurance Fund and the Pension and Disability Insurance Fund, which followed the Serbian framework in northern Mitrovica, were also suspended.
Kurti’s firm stance on the rule of law reflects his broader vision of governance: Kosovo must maintain its sovereignty and uphold democratic principles, even if this leads to temporary friction with international partners. The Prime Minister reiterated that Kosovo’s relations with the U.S. remain strong in core areas such as defense and development, and that diplomatic challenges, while significant, should not overshadow the mutual strategic interest and long-term partnership.
In conclusion, Kurti’s visit underscores a central tenet of his administration: adherence to the rule of law and the prioritization of Kosovo’s national interests above external pressures. While the suspension of the Strategic Dialogue represents a diplomatic setback, Kurti’s statements signal that Kosovo’s government will continue to assert its authority in the north and maintain its commitment to democratic governance.