Congressman Keith Self, together with Ritchie Torres and Mike Lawler, has introduced a resolution in the United States House of Representatives expressing strong support for the integration of Kosovo into NATO.
The resolution states that Kosovo’s democratic governance, civilian oversight of its security forces, and multiethnic coexistence present a compelling case for NATO membership.
Congressman Self emphasized that as adversarial forces continue to destabilize the region, Kosovo’s accession to NATO would serve as a necessary counterbalance to deter such hostile efforts and prevent another potential crisis in the Balkans.
Among other points, the resolution notes:
“Kosovo declared independence in 2008 and has since been recognized by over 100 countries, including the United States and most NATO members. However, the lack of unanimous recognition within NATO remains a central obstacle to its integration into the Alliance.
Four NATO member states—Greece, Romania, Slovakia, and Spain—have yet to recognize Kosovo’s sovereignty. Since NATO operates by consensus, this lack of recognition constitutes a significant barrier to Kosovo’s formal progress toward membership, including participation in key accession mechanisms such as the Partnership for Peace and the Membership Action Plan.”
The resolution urges these four allies to reconsider their positions, stressing that broader recognition of Kosovo is essential to unlocking its path toward NATO integration and closing a strategic gap in Southeast Europe that adversaries seek to exploit.
“Kosovo has demonstrated a clear commitment to regional stability and strategic alignment with NATO countries, but its progress toward membership is being hindered by the lack of recognition from a small number of allies,” said Self.
“Adding Kosovo to the alliance is essential to counter the growing influence of adversaries in Europe. The United States should encourage Greece, Romania, Slovakia, and Spain to reconsider their positions and ensure that Kosovo has a credible and achievable path toward membership,” he added.
He further stressed that Kosovo’s accession to NATO is crucial for protecting U.S. national security interests in Southeast Europe.
