In a statement to Radio Free Europe, a spokesperson for the U.S. State Department said that the United States remains committed to advancing shared interests with the people of Kosovo.

“We remain committed to advancing the shared interests of the United States and the people of Kosovo. We look forward to developing a Strategic Dialogue with Kosovo when the appropriate conditions are in place, including Kosovo fulfilling its commitments to Kosovo Serbs,” the response said.

The State Department did not specify a possible date for the start of the process, nor did it provide further details on the measures it expects Kosovo’s institutions to take.

The Strategic Dialogue with Kosovo was suspended in September 2025 “for an indefinite period” because of U.S. concerns over the actions of Kosovo’s caretaker government, the U.S. spokesperson recalled.

The response was issued on the same day that Washington opens the first round of its Strategic Dialogue with Serbia. The mechanism is aimed at strengthening cooperation between the two countries in security, the economy and foreign policy.

“Through this dialogue, the United States and Serbia will work to achieve shared objectives, including regional peace and stability, expanding ties in business and education, and building a more prosperous future,” the State Department spokesperson told Radio Free Europe.

When and why was the Strategic Dialogue with Kosovo suspended?

On September 12, 2025, the U.S. Embassy in Pristina announced that the United States had decided to halt the Strategic Dialogue with Kosovo for an indefinite period.

The embassy said at the time that the decision was linked to “concerns regarding the actions of the caretaker government,” which it said “have increased tensions and instability.” According to the embassy, these developments limited the United States’ ability to cooperate productively with Kosovo on shared priorities.

The decision was made after steps taken by Kosovo authorities against Serbian institutions operating in Kosovo.

The authorities had also publicly criticized Kosovo’s Constitutional Court over a ruling concerning the mandate of members of parliament.

For Washington, these issues contributed to rising political tensions and made cooperation more difficult. The caretaker government, meanwhile, defended its actions, describing them as “legal and constitutional.”

What is expected of Kosovo regarding Serbs?

For years, the United States and the European Union have called on Kosovo to implement agreements reached in the EU-mediated dialogue with Serbia.

The main requests include establishing the Association of Serb-majority Municipalities and guaranteeing a degree of self-management for the Serbian community in Kosovo, in line with the 2023 Basic Agreement and the Ohrid Annex.

The West also seeks a resolution of disputes with the Serbian Orthodox Church, the protection of religious freedoms, and the avoidance of unilateral steps in northern Kosovo. According to Washington, such actions have heightened tensions with the Serbian community.

Pristina maintains that obligations arising from the dialogue should be implemented reciprocally. Kosovo says its measures in the north, from removing the Serbian dinar from circulation to closing most Serbian parallel institutions, were undertaken to extend the rule of law. / RFE

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According to the State Department, the process demonstrates the shared commitment of Washington and Belgrade to expand and deepen their partnership.

Through the dialogue, the United States and Serbia aim to advance common goals, including peace and stability in the region, stronger ties in business and education, and the creation of a more prosperous future, the State Department said in its response to RFE.

The US Department of State also recalled that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on August 6 last year that the United States would launch this dialogue with Serbia.

What did Djuric say?

The first round of the Strategic Dialogue is expected to take place on July 17, as previously announced by Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Djuric.

Speaking to Radio Television of Serbia on July 14, Djuric described Friday’s development as a historic moment in diplomatic and political relations between Serbia and the United States.

According to him, the decision will contribute to strengthening Serbia’s economic position and its standing on the international stage.

Djuric also said that, through this process, Serbia is joining the group of countries with which the United States maintains the highest level of institutional cooperation.

RTS reported that he also considered this important for “key state and national issues,” mentioning Kosovo, Republika Srpska and the preservation of internal stability in Serbia.

He said the process is important for Serbia in relation to Kosovo as well, where Belgrade relies on the protection of its people, as well as for Republika Srpska. Djuric added that last year, the administration of US President Donald Trump had shown considerable understanding for resolving problems in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

What preceded the US decision?

The United States holds strategic dialogues with dozens of countries around the world to deepen cooperation in various areas, ranging from the economy and security to foreign policy.

The possibility of launching such a dialogue with Serbia was mentioned in August 2025, but the process did not materialize at that time.

At the time, it was said that the dialogue could open “a new era” in bilateral relations by revitalizing political ties and expanding cooperation in business and defense, as well as in energy and communications technology.

Serbia signed its first strategic agreement with the United States in the energy sector in September 2024.

In January this year, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said the United States had presented Serbia with two “formal requests” to begin the Strategic Dialogue. One of them was political in nature, while the other was related to energy, but he did not disclose further details.

One of Washington’s main interests in the Western Balkans is limiting the influence of China and Russia.

The US National Defense Authorization Act, passed in mid-December, included as an objective reducing the Western Balkans’ energy dependence on Russia.

The same law also cites reducing Chinese influence in the Western Balkans as a goal.

The United States also seeks immediate progress in the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia.

According to the stated provision, the United States must support the achievement of a final agreement between Kosovo and Serbia based on mutual recognition.

Over the past year, relations between the United States and Serbia have also been affected by sanctions against the Petroleum Industry of Serbia (NIS), as most of the company’s shares are owned by Russians.

The US administration imposed sanctions on NIS at the beginning of 2025, with the aim of preventing Russia from using revenue from the energy sector for the war in Ukraine.

The implementation of the sanctions has been repeatedly postponed for more than a year. Since the Hungarian company MOL expressed interest in a purchase, the license issued by the US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has been renewed periodically.

On June 30, OFAC extended the license for another 30 days.

Negotiations on the sale of Russian shares in Serbia’s only oil refinery are still ongoing.

Russian owners control 56.15 percent of NIS shares, while 44.85 percent belong to the state-owned company Gazprom Neft.

On June 16, Hungary’s MOL and the Government of Serbia signed the shareholders’ agreement on the future management of NIS./RFE

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