Republicans, Democrats warn Trump administration against pulling US troops from Kosovo
Source: The Hill
03/12/26 5:45 PM ET
A bipartisan group of lawmakers is warning the Trump administration against drawing down hundreds of U.S. troops serving as peacekeeping forces in Kosovo as tensions rise in the region, according to a letter exclusively obtained by The Hill.
The letter, sent Thursday, represents a rare moment of unity among Democrats and Republicans serving on key foreign policy and armed services committees. It also puts a spotlight on a potentially escalating conflict despite President Trump’s claims he achieved peace in the western Balkans.
Lawmakers wrote in the letter addressed to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who also serves as national security adviser, that reports the U.S. is pushing to wind down the NATO-led Kosovo Force (KFOR) risks threatening security in the region. They called for Rubio to provide clarity on the administration’s decisionmaking. A NATO official told The Hill that there are no significant changes under consideration for KFOR.
The U.S. currently has almost 600 troops deployed with KFOR and has the leadership of the Regional Command East of the mission. “The United States continues to play a fundamental role in support to lasting security across Kosovo and to regional stability, including within the framework of the NATO-led KFOR mission,” the official said. KFOR deployed to Kosovo in 1999 to oversee the withdrawal of Serbian troops, marking the end of the Kosovo War.
Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5781703-kosovo-kfor-troops-lawmakers-letter/
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