Enver Hoxhaj, the former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kosovo, has reflected on a pivotal moment in the country’s history, stating that the transformation of the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) into the Kosovo Army is the result of joint political and diplomatic efforts.
In a Facebook post, Hoxhaj shared details from the summer of 2018, when he met with U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis during the Adriatic Charter Conference. He emphasized that during that meeting, he made a clear argument that Kosovo was ready for its own army, a step that, according to Hoxhaj, helped push the Kosovo Assembly to adopt the Law on Transforming the KSF into the Kosovo Army.
“We built the army, now we must join NATO,” Hoxhaj wrote, sharing images from the Adriatic Charter Conference and warning that the next government, led by the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), will focus on efforts to secure NATO membership for the Kosovo Army.
Hoxhaj stressed that the creation of the army was a strategic achievement for Kosovo, but NATO membership would complete the full vision for the country’s security and stability, as well as for the wider region.
