NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte emphasized that stability in Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Serbia is essential for all parties involved. He expressed confidence that there will be no significant changes to America’s commitment to the Western military alliance.

Rutte’s remarks came during his visit to Bratislava, Slovakia, where he responded to student inquiries about potential renewed conflicts in Kosovo amid speculation surrounding new American policies that could affect military presence.

“To be perfectly clear, the information I have indicates that the American commitment to NATO and existing obligations is unwavering. Nevertheless, it’s important to stay vigilant as policy adjustments can occur. The Slovaks, the Dutch, and others are navigating similar situations. However, I have no grounds to anticipate any major decisions. It’s crucial that we keep our focus on the Western Balkans, as stability in Kosovo, Bosnia, and Serbia benefits us all,” Rutte stated.

NATO has maintained a peacekeeping mission in Kosovo since the war’s conclusion. Presently, over 4,600 soldiers from 28 countries serve in Kosovo as part of KFOR, with the largest contingents coming from Italy, followed by the United States, Hungary, and Turkey.

In response to escalating tensions in the Serb-majority north, NATO bolstered its presence in Kosovo in 2023.

KFOR serves as the third security response tier in Kosovo, following the Kosovo Police and the European Union rule of law mission, EULEX, which is tasked with overseeing border security between Kosovo and Serbia.

During his time in Slovakia, Rutte also discussed the parliamentary elections held in Kosovo on February 9th.

“The elections in Kosovo were recently conducted and while final results are pending, it appears that the ruling party may need to form a coalition. We’ll monitor its progress because coalition-building is part of a normal democratic process,” the NATO chief noted.

Preliminary results indicate that Prime Minister Albin Kurti’s Self-Determination Movement received 40.80 percent of the votes, while the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) garnered 22.03 percent, the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) received 17.63 percent, and the coalition of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) and the Social Democratic Initiatives achieved 7.46 percent. The Serbian List obtained 4.61 percent of the votes.

With these results, no party can independently form a new government, which requires 61 votes in the 120-member Parliament.

After the voting concluded, the NATO chief reaffirmed the alliance’s commitment to collaborating with whoever leads Kosovo.

Rutte also touched on NATO’s focus on the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina during the event in Slovakia.

“We recognize that there are several critical issues to address in Bosnia as well as in regional relationships. Step by step, we are committed to maintaining stability, which is vital in a region with a history of unrest. Fortunately, we have achieved lasting stability in the Western Balkans over many years, and it’s essential to uphold that,” Rutte stated.

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