The Kosovo Security Force (KSF) continues to hold its ground as the single most trusted security institution in the Republic of Kosovo, securing an impressive 87.4% trust rating from the public. The latest figures were highlighted by the KSF command, citing the newly published WeBalkans 2026 Regional Perception Survey.
The comprehensive public opinion poll, funded by the European Union and conducted across the Western Balkans, underscores the deeply rooted systemic confidence the citizens of Kosovo place in their military force amid its ongoing multi-year transition into a conventional defensive army.
Leadership Reacts: Praise for Troops and Transatlantic Allies
Following the publication of the data, the Commander of the Kosovo Security Force, Lieutenant General Bashkim Jashari, issued an official statement expressing his gratitude to both the public and his active-duty personnel.
General Jashari pointed to three core pillars that have driven this historic high approval rating:
- Public Partnership: Jashari thanked the citizens of Kosovo for their unwavering, continuous trust, emphasizing that public backing serves as the ultimate institutional motivation.
- Troop Dedication: He expressed deep appreciation for the KSF personnel’s self-less service, discipline, and high professional integrity in fulfilling their constitutional and legal mandates.
- Strategic Allies: The commander explicitly singled out international partners—chiefly led by the United States of America—for their continuous logistical, tactical, and educational support in developing the KSF’s professional and defensive capabilities.
Official KSF Communiqué: “This high evaluation stands as concrete proof of the commitment, professionalism, and institutional integrity of the members of the Kosovo Security Force. The trust of our citizens is an honor, a profound responsibility, and an added incentive for the KSF to continue expanding its operational capacities to guarantee peace, security, and stability across the country and beyond.”
The Security Trust Landscape in Kosovo
The WeBalkans regional survey, which conducts face-to-face interviews with representative samples across the region, consistently highlights the KSF as a benchmark for institutional stability in Kosovo.
| Institution Assessed | Public Trust Rating (2026) | Primary Strategic Mandate |
| Kosovo Security Force (KSF) | 87.4% | Protection of sovereignty, territorial integrity, and civil defense support. |
| Other Security Sectors | Lower Tier Baseline | Domestic policing, border management, and localized intelligence operations. |
[WeBalkans 2026 Public Trust Survey]
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[Kosovo Security Force: 87.4% Approval]
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┌─────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────┐
▼ ▼ ▼
[Constitutional Duty] [Civic Readiness] [US-NATO Synergy]
Guarding sovereignty & Always ready to deploy Continuous tactical alignment
territorial integrity. for domestic crises. with Western defense standards.
The KSF’s transition plan, initiated via legislative changes to expand its mandate into a territorial defense force, remains heavily reliant on direct bilateral training with the U.S. Military and active coordination with KFOR. KSF leadership reiterated that maintaining this 87% benchmark is vital as the force continues to scale up its technical equipment and defensive hardware over the coming years.
