At a time when the United States influence is on the decline, it must not take its allies for granted, including with Kosovo, said U.S. Congressman for the Bronx, Ritchie Torres in an exclusive interview with Alice Taylor on Inside Albania.

Torres, a member of the Democratic Party, has been one of the few U.S. voices which has stood in support of Kosovo amid growing calls for Kosovo to de-escalate the situation in the north, under the threat of U.S. and EU sanctions.

“We’re living in a time where the United States influence might be on the decline, and we cannot take our allies for granted. We have to be proactive in preserving our alliances,” he told Inside Albania on Saturday.

He continued that Vladimir Putin is the most popular figure in Serbia and that a policy of appeasing Serbia is unlikely to elevate the standing of the U.S. or the EU within the country.

“When I go to Kosovo, there is a deep goodwill and loyalty towards the United States. I have jokingly said there is more love for the United States in Kosovo than there is in the United States. Why on earth would we want to squander that goodwill?” he added.

The accusations of Western bias in favor of Serbia amid ongoing tensions has compounded by Kosovo being removed from the NATO-led military exercise “Defender 2023”, while Serbia, along with the U.S. and other NATO countries, has been praised for its leading of “Platinum Wolf 23” military exercise.

“The highest priority should be to secure recognition of Kosovo as an independent state and an integration of Kosovo first into the European Union and NATO and ultimately into the international community. That should remain the policy of both Europe and the United States,” Torres said.