US Suspends Strategic Dialogue with Kosovo Over Caretaker Government Tensions

The United States has indefinitely suspended its planned Strategic Dialogue with Kosovo, citing concerns that actions and statements by caretaker Prime Minister Albin Kurti have increased tensions and instability in the region. The U.S. Embassy expressed that these moves have constrained Washington's ability to work productively with Kosovo on shared priorities, without specifying exact actions. The suspension follows a political deadlock in Kosovo since parliamentary elections in February, with Kurti's Vetevendosje party refusing to accept a Serb minority deputy speaker, complicating the formation of a new government and stalling normalization talks with Serbia. Kosovo's government maintains its commitment to peace and stability, welcoming concrete criticism to improve its actions. The U.S. decision marks a significant downturn in relations, as it has been Kosovo's biggest political and financial supporter, while the European Union has also imposed sanctions on Kosovo in 2023 over ethnic tensions in Serb-majority northern areas. The dispute centers on fears around Serb autonomy in Kosovo's north, with Kurti opposing proposals for greater self-governance for Serbs, further exacerbating ethnic divisions.