The US ambassador in Pristina, Jeffrey Hovenier, has announced the exclusion of Kosovo from the Defender Europe 2023 exercises. This is the first consequence for the Government of Kosovo, which has rejected Washington's calls to escalate the situation in the north. 

Meanwhile, a few days ago the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, warned that the actions of the Government of Kosovo in the northern municipalities will result in consequences in bilateral relations. 

"The first indicator of this was the decision that was taken last night by the American commander for Europe to cancel Kosovo's participation in Defender Europe 2023, which happened during the night. For Kosovo, these exercises have ended", said Hovenier. 

Meanwhile, regarding the tensions in the North, the US has criticized the Government of Kosovo, saying that on May 26, the new Albanian mayors in the northern municipalities "entered by force" the municipal buildings in the north. 

Hovenier said that the US is also thinking about other decisions it will make in this direction.

"We have asked the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, to take immediate steps to escalate the situation in the north. He has not responded to these requests. Therefore, we are considering what our next actions will be," he said.