The U.S. State Department has once again confirmed that the resumption of the Strategic Dialogue with Kosovo is conditional on the fulfillment of several prerequisites, particularly respect for the commitments made toward Kosovo’s Serbian community.
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In a statement to Radio Free Europe on October 13, the State Department reiterated the position it first expressed in July, without providing details on whether Pristina had made any progress in meeting the demands or on which specific measures had yet to be taken.
“We remain committed to advancing the shared interests of the United States and the citizens of Kosovo,” a State Department spokesperson told Radio Free Europe.
The reaffirmation came after a request from Kosovo’s president, Justina Shiroka Pula, who called for the resumption of the Strategic Dialogue during a meeting in Pristina on October 12 with U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Dick Durbin. According to a statement from the Office of the President, she highlighted the importance of the dialogue for strengthening the partnership and advancing shared priorities.
In an interview with Kosovo’s Radio Television, Senator Shaheen said it would be positive for the Strategic Dialogue to resume, but cited changes within the U.S. administration and State Department as obstacles.
The State Department recalled that the Strategic Dialogue was suspended indefinitely in September 2025 because of concerns related to the actions of the then-caretaker government. The decision came immediately after Kosovo’s authorities took measures against Serbian parallel structures operating in Kosovo.
Radio Free Europe contacted Kosovo’s government to learn what steps are currently being taken to ensure the resumption of the Strategic Dialogue.
Shtuni: The position does not change simply with the passage of time
Adrian Shtuni, a Washington-based expert on security and foreign policy, said that any change in the U.S. position would depend on addressing the causes that led to the initial suspension.
“For the time being, the position remains unchanged because Kosovo has been at a standstill in many respects for nearly two years.”
He views the political agreement that led to the election of President Shiroka Pula as a positive signal, but stresses that additional steps are needed for the Strategic Dialogue to resume.
“Without concrete and urgent measures to create the right conditions, respond to U.S. demands and honor previous commitments, I do not see the resumption of the Strategic Dialogue as a realistic possibility,” Shtuni told Radio Free Europe.
According to him, Kosovo must also intensify its diplomatic efforts in Washington.
He said that visits by and engagement from U.S. senators help keep Kosovo at the center of U.S. policymaking, but that the decision on the Strategic Dialogue belongs to the executive branch.
“The decisive factor remains the taking of concrete steps by Kosovo’s authorities to address the issues that led to the suspension of the dialogue.”
What is being demanded of Kosovo regarding the Serbs?
In its latest response, the State Department did not specify which concrete obligations must be fulfilled. However, for years the United States and the European Union have called on Kosovo to implement the agreements reached in the dialogue with Serbia, facilitated by Brussels. The most important of these is ensuring a degree of self-management for Kosovo’s Serbian community, which entails establishing the Association of Serb-majority Municipalities, in accordance with the 2023 Basic Agreement and the Ohrid Annex.
Following President Shiroka Pula’s request for the resumption of the Strategic Dialogue, Radio Free Europe contacted the Office of the President of Kosovo to obtain its position on the establishment of the Association, but had received no response by the time this article was published.
Meanwhile, the West is also demanding that Kosovo resolve its disputes with the Serbian Orthodox Church, guarantee religious freedoms and avoid unilateral actions in the north of the country, which Washington says have strained relations with the Serbian community.
The implementation of the agreements was among the issues raised by representatives of the Serb List during a meeting with Senators Shaheen and Durbin at the U.S. Embassy in Pristina.
According to a statement from the party, its chairman Zlatan Elek and parliamentary group leader Igor Simiq expressed concerns about the rights and security of Serbs, particularly emphasizing the failure to establish the Association and the issue of Serbian representation in institutions. The statement did not mention the senators’ positions on these issues.
Kosovo argues that the implementation of obligations arising from the dialogue with Serbia must be mutual, while its actions in the north — from removing the Serbian dinar from circulation to closing most Serbian parallel institutions — were intended to extend the rule of law.
Pristina also insists that Serbia sign the Basic Agreement, something Belgrade has so far refused to do.
For the continuation of the dialogue with Serbia, Kosovo’s authorities are seeking the extradition of Milan Radoičić, the former deputy leader of the Serb List, who has accepted responsibility for the armed attack in Banjska in September 2023.
Radoičić is under U.S. sanctions for involvement in corruption and organized crime activities, while in Kosovo he has been indicted on terrorism and other criminal charges.
What does the suspension of the Strategic Dialogue mean in practice?
Shtuni describes the suspension as a “political and diplomatic punishment” with concrete consequences for Kosovo, since it “freezes a planned framework for high-level cooperation.”
According to him, Kosovo particularly needs U.S. political and diplomatic support to secure new recognitions and join international organizations, especially NATO.
“Without strong support from the United States in all these areas, Kosovo unfortunately remains at a standstill,” he told Radio Free Europe.
Shtuni said the missed opportunities also affect the economy.
“As long as the dialogue remains suspended, Kosovo is losing the opportunity to systematically deepen economic cooperation, trade, investment facilitation and broader diplomatic coordination with the United States.”
According to him, this delays new joint initiatives in sectors vital to Kosovo, such as energy, infrastructure and trade links, while “also limiting Kosovo’s ability to strengthen its international standing and leverage the partnership to advance its Euro-Atlantic strategic goals.”
Shtuni stresses that the suspension of this mechanism does not mean a complete interruption of cooperation. He explains that essential cooperation continues in the areas of security and the development of Kosovo’s military capabilities, while the suspension mainly affects the high-level framework for expanding the partnership.
Kosovo aims to deepen security cooperation further by proposing that Camp Bondsteel be transformed into a permanent U.S. base. Senator Dick Durbin said the proposal deserved serious consideration and that Kosovo’s government had also submitted a financial agreement for this purpose.
Radio Free Europe contacted the Pentagon and Kosovo’s government for details about the proposal, but had received no response by the time this article was published.
Shtuni said Kosovo’s financial proposal to turn Camp Bondsteel into a permanent base was not insignificant, but stressed that Washington’s decision would depend primarily on strategic and military interests, at a time when the United States is reassessing its military presence in Europe.
“The chances of receiving a positive response from the current administration are low, as it is meanwhile seriously considering reducing its military presence in Europe,” Shtuni told Radio Free Europe.
