Kosovo is set to establish formal military representation in Brussels, following Belgium’s decision to recognize a Kosovo Defense Attaché, Belgian media reported on Thursday.
The announcement came from Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken, after his official visit to Belgian military personnel currently serving in Kosovo as part of NATO’s KFOR mission. Belgium has recognized Kosovo as an independent state since 2008.
“Kosovo plays a key role in ensuring stability in the Western Balkans. Our ties have grown historically and deserve to be strengthened,” said Francken in a press statement, adding that the recognition of the defense attaché is a ‘strong signal’ of deepening bilateral defense relations.
Since April 2025, Belgium has participated in the NATO-led KFOR mission, alongside the Netherlands and Luxembourg. The Benelux detachment, led by Luxembourg, deploys Belgian personnel and equipment, including the Integrator drone, to monitor the tense border between Kosovo and Serbia.
KFOR has been maintaining security in Kosovo since 1999 and currently includes nearly 5,000 troops from 29 countries. Belgian troops had not been part of KFOR since 2010 until their recent return.
A defense attaché is typically a military officer assigned to an embassy, serving as the official defense representative of their country abroad. This move signifies Kosovo’s growing role in international defense diplomacy and is seen as a milestone in its Euro-Atlantic integration efforts.
