Are the Americans Withdrawing from So-Called Kosovo?

According to the report, the U.S. has also lobbied to prevent Ukraine and Indo-Pacific allies from formally participating in the alliance’s annual summit in July in Ankara.

As the Brussels-based outlet states, these activities by Washington reflect the White House’s desire to treat NATO strictly as a Euro-Atlantic defense pact, which should stop doing anything that “irritates” the American president and his MAGA concept.

Under initiatives from Washington, NATO should reduce so-called "out-of-area activities" that go beyond the alliance’s core tasks of defense and deterrence.

This American "wish list" has internally become known as a "return to factory settings", the four diplomats said, all of whom were granted anonymity to speak freely about these sensitive matters.

"NATO 3.0"

However, Politico writes that this could result in a rapid reduction of NATO activities in former war zones, as well as the exclusion of capitals, including Kyiv and Canberra, from formal talks this summer.

New details about U.S. lobbying came after Deputy Pentagon Chief Elbridge Colby recently explained that the Trump administration is working to create what he called "NATO 3.0."

"Not every mission can be the top priority. Not every capability can be gilded", Colby told alliance defense ministers last week, reiterating that the U.S. remains committed to European security.

"The measure of seriousness is whether European forces can fight, sustain themselves, and win in scenarios that matter most for the alliance’s defense", he added at the time.

However, not all NATO members share this view.

"Abandoning the alliance’s overseas initiatives is not the right approach", one of the four diplomats said. "Partnerships are key to deterrence and defense", the official emphasized.

Politico recalls that since returning to the White House last year, Donald Trump has already reduced U.S. overseas commitments, withdrawn troops and NATO personnel from Europe, and handed some of the alliance’s top command positions to Europeans, as he seeks to refocus foreign policy on "core national security".

Withdrawal from Kosovo and Metohija?

Washington plans to withdraw about 2,500 troops from Iraq in accordance with a 2024 agreement with the Iraqi government.

Tamer Badawi, an Iraq expert and associate at the Center for Applied Research, said that the NATO mission itself is not "crucial" for the country’s security, but that its termination, combined with a U.S. withdrawal, could empower militia groups and “destabilize” the regional government of northern Kurdistan.

The U.S. request is also facing resistance within the alliance. "This is not the time to pull out of Iraq… the government wants us there", said the first diplomat.

A second diplomat stated that "most" allies agree the Iraq mission should be reduced but over a longer period, while maintaining a smaller operation.

The U.S. has also signaled that it wants to reduce KFOR forces in Kosovo and Metohija, according to the four diplomats, which is even more concerning for European allies, even though discussions are still at a very early stage.

The international peacekeeping mission authorized by the UN, which began in 1999 after the Yugoslav wars, currently includes around 4,500 troops.

Engjellushe Morina, a senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, said the mission remains "essential" for regional security.

"We are quite concerned" about attempts to scale down the mission, said a fifth senior NATO diplomat, because "things in the Western Balkans can escalate quickly".

Politicians nevertheless emphasize that no decision has yet been made to end any operation.

All 32 allies that make up NATO must approve the start and end of missions, a process that usually involves coordinated lobbying and pressure campaigns by multiple allies, not just the United States.