Several members of the US Congress called on Secretary of State Marco Rubio in a letter to prevent the possible limitation of US troops in Kosovo, saying that such a withdrawal risks destabilizing not only the country but also the wider Western Balkans region at a time of malign influences.
Radio Free Europe reports that in a letter to Rubio on March 11, they expressed "deep concern" over reports that President Donald Trump's administration may withdraw some US forces from the NATO mission in Kosovo, KFOR.
"At a time of heightened political fragility and increasing malign influence in the Western Balkans, a premature reduction of the US presence risks destabilizing not only Kosovo but the broader region, particularly Bosnia and Herzegovina. We urge you to maintain the level of US forces to protect US national security interests in the Western Balkans region," the letter states.
Their letter comes after the American newspaper "Politico", citing four NATO diplomats, reported on February 19 that the United States is asking allies to consider limiting the alliance's external commitments, including the mission in Kosovo.
About 590 American forces serve in Kosovo as part of the NATO peacekeeping mission, KFOR.
KFOR is the third largest security force in Kosovo, after the Kosovo Police and the European Union rule of law mission, EULEX. But this peacekeeping mission is also responsible for security on the border between Kosovo and Serbia, two neighboring countries that continue to have tense relations.
