Albanians for America followed today’s congressional hearing on the Western Balkans closely, including through AFA representatives who attended the hearing in person in Washington, D.C.
We welcome the heightened attention that Congress is giving to the Western Balkans and, above all, the bipartisan recognition that the security and democratic future of the region remain important to the United States.
Chairman Keith Self opened the hearing by describing instability in the Western Balkans as a serious U.S. national security concern and reflected directly on what he witnessed during his congressional visit to the region in May.
His remarks on Serbia were particularly significant. Chairman Self stated that the Serbian government continues to embrace a narrative of victimization rooted in the past, pointing to its refusal to recognize Kosovo’s independence and the honoring of convicted war criminals. He also raised the growing influence of China and Russia in Serbia and questioned the implications for regional stability.
Importantly for the Albanian community, Chairman Self also spoke directly about the rights of ethnic Albanians in southern Serbia, describing the situation in the Presheva Valley as a priority during his May visit and emphasizing that protecting minority rights is essential to regional stability.
On Kosovo, the message was equally clear. Chairman Self described Kosovo as an “independent, democratic, and strategic partner of the United States” and called on the remaining NATO countries that do not recognize Kosovo to do so. He argued that Kosovo’s integration into NATO is fundamental to long-term stability in the Western Balkans and stressed the immediate importance of maintaining the U.S. presence in KFOR.
The State Department also reaffirmed that the United States remains committed to Kosovo’s independence and territorial integrity and confirmed that Washington continues discussions with NATO allies that have yet to recognize Kosovo.
At the same time, the hearing underscored concerns about Serbia’s strategic direction. Responding to Chairman Self, Deputy Assistant Secretary Daniel Lawton confirmed U.S. concern over Serbia’s acquisition of Chinese defense systems, noting that Serbia is the only European country to purchase air-defense systems from China, and warned that this could complicate closer U.S.–Serbia defense cooperation.
For AFA, there is a broader message from today’s hearing: sustained engagement matters.
From congressional visits to hearings, legislation and direct engagement with policymakers, attention to Kosovo, the rights of Albanians in the Presheva Valley, and the future security architecture of the Western Balkans is growing in Washington.
We thank Chairman Self, Ranking Member Keating and members of the Subcommittee for their continued attention to the region.
AFA will continue showing up, building relationships across party lines, and working to ensure that Albanian-American perspectives are heard where U.S. policy toward our region is discussed.