Garčević on What Kosovo Risks Without Proper Lobbying
Ambassador Vesko Garčević, Professor of the Practice of International Relations at the Pardee School, was featured in both an article titled Kosovo Has Not Had a Registered Lobbying Contract in the U.S. for Almost Two Years and the Albanian-language political analysis program, Exposé, titled Who speaks for Kosovo’s interests in America? for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty on February 1st, 2026. In each of the programs, Garčević discussed the importance of official lobbying in the United States, with a focus on Kosovo and the broader Balkan context.
Garčević emphasized that official lobbying in Washington is particularly important for small countries that lack significant economic, military, or strategic influence and therefore do not automatically attract U.S. attention. He warned that without proper lobbying, Kosovo risks misunderstanding U.S. priorities, adopting policies that fail to meet Washington’s expectations, and consequently receiving limited support. Drawing on Montenegro’s experience, Garčević explained how continuous and timely lobbying helped shape a positive perception of Montenegro’s NATO candidacy in the U.S. and played a key role in achieving that objective.
Vesko Garčević is a professor of the practice of international studies at the Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies and the director of the Center for the Study of Europe. An expert on multilateral issues, Garčević is the co-author of Montenegro and Serbia: A Velvet Divorce? (Bloomsbury Academic, 2025) which explores the divergent past between Serbia and Montenegro between 1988 and 2023. To read more about his work and accomplishments, visit his faculty profile.