Kosovo–USA Relations Under Prime Minister Albin Kurti: A Shift in Foreign Policy or Continuity?

Since 1999, Kosovo has depended on an extremely close partnership with the United States for state-building, security guarantees, diplomatic recognition and Euro-Atlantic momentum. Yet, under Prime Minister Albin Kurti, bilateral relations have hit their most sour point in a quarter century. This article examines whether Kurti’s foreign policy marks a structural change from Washington, or a continuation of long-standing Kosovo strategic goals carried out by new domestically motivated means. Drawing on insights from neoclassical realism and small-state behaviors of both the past and present, as well as from process-tracing during events taking place over the period of 2019 to 2025, the research assesses the inter-relationship among domestic nationalism, elite competition, and the identity politics of Vetëvendosje versus international pressure from the United States, the EU and Serbia. The findings suggest that, although Kosovo’s grand strategy formally still depends on Euro-Atlantic integration as a preferred choice, Kurti’s leadership style, typified by unilateral decisions and choices of security and confrontation rhetoric and deflationary opposition to externally sponsored house compromises, materially damages U.S-Kosovo trust. Consequences include that Washington would suspend the Strategic Dialogue with Kosovo in 2025 and the fact that there has also been increased diplomatic criticism of policies in the Serb-majority north. These developments are in contrast with Kosovo’s dependence on American sponsorship after 1999 and show that domestic political incentives have won over strategic caution. The article concludes that Kurti’s approach is one of partial continuity in the goals but a rupture in the behavior: Kosovo continues to seek alignment with the States of the West (NATO, EU and U.S.) but through foreign policy strategies that are detrimental to them, and so weaken Kosovo’s negotiating leverage—with the risk of a long-term diplomatic isolation.