Kosovo will officially have a defense attaché in Brussels, following Belgium’s formal recognition of Kosovo’s military representation, announced Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken, according to Rks News. The announcement came after Francken’s visit to Belgian troops serving in NATO’s KFOR mission in Kosovo.
Belgium, which recognized Kosovo as an independent state in 2008, views the country as a key actor for stability in the Western Balkans.
“Our relations have grown historically and deserve to be strengthened,” said Francken, calling the recognition of the attaché a “strong signal” of continued development in bilateral defense ties.
As of April 2025, Belgium has rejoined KFOR as part of the Benelux Detachment, alongside the Netherlands and Luxembourg, under Luxembourg’s command. This unit is tasked with monitoring the Kosovo-Serbia border, an area frequently marred by tensions. KFOR has been maintaining peace and security in Kosovo since 1999, currently deploying around 5,000 troops from 29 countries. Belgium had no active military presence in the mission since 2010.
The newly appointed defense attaché will be stationed at the Belgian embassy in Brussels, representing Belgian military interests in Kosovo and helping deepen defense cooperation between the two countries.
