Liridon Lika: Kosovo’s Foreign Policy and Bilateral Relations

As new states emerged from the ashes of Yugoslavia, the literature embodying the region was reimagined, especially when it comes to statebuilding efforts on a regional and global scale. Kosovo’s existence, since February 2008, as an independent state within the context of the Western Balkans’ integration into the European Union and international organizations such as the United Nations has led to an intensive policy of establishing strong bilateral relations with crucial allies in the West. This policy has aimed to promote Kosovo’s interests and advance its progress on both economic and diplomatic levels, while also seeking recognition from the remaining half of the world that does not yet acknowledge its sovereignty.

As part of its series on Intervention and Statebuilding, Routledge’s Kosovo’s Foreign Policy and Bilateral Relations, edited by Lika Liridon, explores the dynamic relationships between Kosovo and its allies. In so doing, it touches on several fields of research, including history, migration, economy, and statebuilding. Scholarly literature on the foreign policy of the Western Balkan states remains scarce, making this collective volume one of the first of its kind. Offering a new approach to the importance of security for small states, it provides an extensive overview of Kosovo’s foreign policy, which is paramount to the future stability of the Western Balkans and European integration.

Among the authors of the book are ambassadors, political scientists, and historians, many of whom have personally had an impact on Kosovo’s foreign policy. To survive as a small, contested state, the Kosovar government has dedicated its diplomatic efforts to the pursuit of a rigorous objective: consolidating as much support as possible from prominent Western allies as well as its neighbours. Its aim has been to create a nuanced strategy that carefully outlines democratic aspirations while overcoming obstacles stemming from Serbian efforts to rescind Kosovo’s sovereignty. This book reveals the layers, patterns, and mechanisms that characterise how Kosovo’s government has operated on the international playing field. From large-scale to smaller actors, all of which play a role in shaping Kosovo’s internal and external structures, each chapter provides insights into the state’s bilateral relations with a specific country – 12 in total – while raising questions about the sustainability of its alliances, particularly with countries such as Turkey and France, which were among the first states to recognize Kosovo’s independence in 2008.

Drilon S. Gashi, Kosovo’s ambassador to Poland, outlines relations between Kosovo and the United States. Gashi asserts, based on firsthand experience, that the United States is Kosovo’s most “consistent supporter” and thus a key driving force behind its progress and capabilities as an independent actor. Gashi elaborates on how closely Kosovo aligns its foreign policy with that of the US, exhibiting an asymmetric dependence, which, however, is a common trait in most of Kosovo’s bilateral relations, given its fragile statehood and size. Gashi goes as far as to state that this dependence has turned Kosovo into a “client state” of the US, potentially undermining Kosovo’s ability to become self-sufficient. It remains to be seen whether, as Gashi suggests, Kosovo will remain committed to US interests (45).

Other relations with Western powers, such as between Kosovo and France, are strained by historical contexts. In a longue durée approach, Enika Abazi highlights France’s conditional support for Kosovo, which rests on solving internal issues against a backdrop of French support for Serbia throughout the 20th century (140). France’s position as a key EU actor remains crucial for Kosovo. However, France delayed Kosovo’s visa liberalisation until 2024, and to date no French president has paid Kosovo a visit. Abazi poses the question of Kosovo’s longing for a strong EU backer, given France’s neglect, drawing parallels to the US–Kosovo relationship. Her question is partially answered in the subsequent chapter which outlines Kosovo’s relationship with Germany, home to its largest diaspora population. Engjellushe Morina, a political analyst at the European Council on Foreign Relations, accurately portrays Germany’s commitment to Kosovo’s development and its broader investment in the Western Balkans, showcasing Germany’s potential as a leading supporter of Kosovo in the Pristina–Belgrade dialogue (170).

Other Western allies, such as the United Kingdom, Sweden, Austria, and Belgium, are also discussed in the book. However, these latter analyses feel somewhat repetitive, despite the authors’ efforts to describe the distinct nature of Kosovo’s relationships with each of these states, all of which have played a role in its development and statebuilding process. Historian Daut Dauti highlights how Brexit negatively impacted Kosovo’s standing in the EU, as the UK could no longer positively influence the EU’s approach (102). In the case of Sweden, the country’s commitment to democracy and human rights paved the way for its involvement in the Western Balkans, allowing Kosovo to become a beneficiary of its investments (217). Clearly, in all of Kosovo’s bilateral relations, the book underscores the country’s status as a recipient of Western support, resulting in a largely one-sided relationship, with Kosovo, a small and weak state, seeking recognition.

The diplomatic strategies of Kosovo’s Western allies have secured the backing of neighbouring countries in the Western Balkans. Such support has stemmed either from shared concerns over Serbia, as is the case with Croatia, or from an alignment of interests in advancing EU integration and gaining international support, as is the case with North Macedonia and Montenegro, which are home to significant ethnic Albanian communities. The background and dynamics of Kosovo’s regional relations are well covered in this book, as is the special relationship between Kosovo and Albania.

The book’s chapters do, however, leave space for further exploration, whether this be a more in-depth look at one state’s bilateral relations with Kosovo or an examination of specific dynamics or aspects thereof. At times, and given its somewhat partisan authorship, the book displays an emotional connection to Kosovo, aimed at advocating its stance and emphasizing the critical role of its allies in ensuring its survival. However, this does not detract from the book’s merit, but rather paves the way for revealing further aspects of Kosovo’s strategy to consolidate its sovereignty through its foreign policy agenda. The authors provide a comprehensive overview of Kosovo’s bilateral relations, making the book valuable both to newcomers to the subject and to scholars focused on foreign policy, intervention, and security.