NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte is expected to visit Kosovo on March 11, marking his first visit to the region since assuming office. This information was obtained by Radio Free Europe from diplomatic sources. Prior to his visit to Kosovo, Rutte will travel to Bosnia and Herzegovina on March 10.
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| Mark Rutte |
During his stay in Kosovo, Rutte is expected to be accompanied by ambassadors of NATO member states who are part of the North Atlantic Council. However, NATO has not yet officially announced this visit. Rutte had previously stated in a debate in Bratislava, Slovakia, that he intended to visit Kosovo in March.
On Monday, Rutte also held a telephone conversation with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić. The NATO Secretary General recently emphasized that stability in Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Serbia is in everyone’s best interest. He also stated that he sees no reason to believe there will be any dramatic changes regarding the U.S. commitment to NATO.
During his stay in Bratislava, Rutte addressed concerns about a potential resurgence of conflict in Kosovo amid speculations that a shift in U.S. policy might lead to a military withdrawal. "Let me be completely clear. From everything I understand about the American system, they are fully committed to NATO and their current engagements. However, we must wait and see what happens. Policies can always undergo minor adaptations, as seen in Slovakia, the Netherlands, and elsewhere. But I have no reason to believe there will be dramatic decisions. Overall, in the Western Balkans, we must ensure that this region remains a focus, as stability in Kosovo, Bosnia, and Serbia is in everyone’s interest," Rutte stated.
Following Kosovo’s elections, Rutte also encouraged the continuation of the democratic process, including the formation of governing coalitions.
During his visit, Rutte and the NATO delegation will also visit the KFOR mission, which operates under NATO’s command. Currently, around 4,700 troops are part of the mission, with Italy contributing the largest contingent of 1,250 personnel and holding the command. The United States has approximately 600 troops stationed in the mission.
This visit by NATO’s chief comes amid heightened tensions between Europe and the United States, particularly concerning U.S. efforts to end the war in Ukraine. The U.S. has been pressuring Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to consider a ceasefire agreement, while European leaders have called for a more significant role in the negotiations.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed frustration with Zelensky’s resistance to a swift ceasefire without concrete security guarantees from the U.S. Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron have stated their readiness to deploy troops to Ukraine to help maintain peace, should an agreement be reached to end the war that began in 2022.