Kosovo’s Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, who is seeking re-election, has responded for the first time to recent criticisms made by Richard Grenell, U.S. Presidential Envoy for Special Missions. Grenell labeled Kurti as an unreliable partner for Washington. During an interview with Istogu Channel, Kurti rejected the accusations, insisting that Kosovo’s relationship with the United States has never been better.
Kurti’s dismissal of Richard Grenell’s criticism appears to be a calculated move aimed at Kosovo’s domestic electorate, seeking to minimize the political damage caused by the envoy’s remarks just days before the crucial February 9, 2025 elections. However, despite Kurti’s reassurances, U.S.-Kosovo relations have deteriorated significantly in recent years. With Donald Trump back in the White House and Grenell’s influence growing, tensions are likely to escalate further, particularly as U.S. officials have repeatedly questioned Kurti’s reliability as a partner.
Grenell’s criticism of Kurti is not new. On January 22, Grenell publicly confronted Glauk Konjufca, Deputy Chairman of Kurti’s Vetëvendosje party, regarding complaints that the Biden administration had put Kosovo at a disadvantage in its negotiations with Serbia. Grenell accused the ruling party of hypocrisy, noting that Vetëvendosje had previously praised Biden’s leadership and maintained close ties with the U.S. Democratic Party.
Grenell reiterated his stance in a social media post on February 3, stating that the Kurti government was unreliable during both the Trump and Biden administrations. He highlighted that U.S. companies had avoided investing in Kosovo, unlike their expansion in neighboring countries.
Kurti dismissed these claims, asserting that Kosovo has never enjoyed stronger cooperation with the U.S. “We’re not just talking about diplomatic ties anymore,” he said. “Our partnership extends into security and energy, which has been fortified during my administration.” Kurti pointed to the largest U.S. financial grants Kosovo has ever received as evidence of positive bilateral relations.
Despite these reassurances, the criticisms from Grenell have become a key talking point just days before the elections, with opposition figures seizing on the issue to question Kurti’s leadership on the international stage.
