Kosovo denies claims of US military withdrawal
Capt. Joseph Bell III, commander of Detachment 2, Company C, 1st Battalion, 168th General Support Aviation Battalion, Washington Army National Guard, exits a UH-60 Blackhawk after landing at the Kosovo Security Force Training and Doctrine Command compound in Ferizaj/Urosevac, Kosovo, on April 14, 2021. (Photo via US Army National Guard)
Kosovo has rejected claims that the US military plans to withdraw from the country.
“This news, circulated by some websites and television channels, is disinformation spread by external actors aiming to destabilize the country and the Western Balkans,” Kosovo’s Defense Ministry wrote Monday in a written statement received by Anadolu.
It said the withdrawal of US troops from NATO’s Kosovo Force (KFOR) is “out of the question,” as such deployment or withdrawal decisions are not made on a haphazard basis.
The ministry pointed to what it called constant coordination with the US on every decision and weekly communication with KFOR, further stressing that the claims were “unfounded.”
A NATO official who spoke to Anadolu about the allegations said the United States continues to play a fundamental role with its deep-rooted contribution in KFOR and currently supports the mission with more than 600 troops.
“US officials have made clear their commitment to the Alliance, including the US presence in Europe and the need for NATO’s deterrence and defense to remain strong,” said the official, adding that the US expects its NATO allies to do and invest more for shared security.
Underscoring that NATO is constantly adapting to an ever-changing environment, the official said their commitment to stability in the Western Balkans in “unwavering.”
Western countries fear that a potential deal between the US and Russia on Ukraine, and the shift in priorities under President Donald Trump, could lead to an end to the presence of US troops in large parts of Europe.
