25,000 troops from 29 countries join NATO’s largest military exercise of the year
For the first time in its history, Kosovo is hosting the command of a U.S. Army division, marking a significant milestone as the country takes part in Defender Europe 25—the largest multinational military exercise of the year under U.S. and NATO leadership.
The international exercise officially begins today in Babaj i Bokës, near Gjakova, with 25,000 troops from 29 partner nations participating in coordinated drills across 18 European countries. These include Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Sweden.
Operational Movements Across Kosovo
Kosovo will play host to joint military movements from May 26 through June 9, with convoys mobilizing from the bases of the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) toward the Gjakova Airport and the Babaj i Bokës military training ground.
In a statement, the Ministry of Defense confirmed that these movements are part of the logistics for the Defender Europe 2025 exercise, urging citizens for understanding and cooperation during this temporary increase in military presence and activity.
A Showcase of Readiness and Regional Cooperation
According to defense officials, the exercise represents a key opportunity for Kosovo’s forces to demonstrate their operational readiness, interoperability, and strategic alignment with key allies including the United States, Albania, Croatia, North Macedonia, and Bulgaria.
The participation also reflects growing trust in Kosovo’s role as a regional security partner, especially after it was excluded from the 2023 edition of the exercise due to heightened tensions in the country’s northern region.
The presence of a U.S. division command in Kosovo symbolizes an increasing level of military cooperation and geopolitical integration, solidifying the country’s position within the Euro-Atlantic defense framework.
