Acting Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurti visited military exercises taking place as part of “Defender Europe 2025”, a large-scale multinational training operation led by the United States Army in Southeast Europe.
In a statement, Kurti emphasized that Kosovo’s armed forces are consistently demonstrating interoperability with NATO-member militaries, underscoring the growing professionalism and strategic alignment of the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) with Western allies.
“Our army is proving every day its ability to work jointly with the militaries of NATO member countries,” Kurti said.
Accompanied by Defense Minister Ejup Maqedonci and Lieutenant General Bashkim Jashari, Commander of the KSF, Kurti first visited the 28th Infantry Division Command of the U.S. Army, which oversees all multinational brigades in the region.
He later toured the Task Force Unit in Devë, a multinational battalion led by the 2nd Infantry Regiment of the KSF, followed by a visit to a newly constructed light weapons firing range — a donation from the United States to support the operational readiness of Kosovo’s military.
Kurti also reviewed ongoing infrastructure investments in the military training zone of Babaj i Bokës, highlighting continuous development in defense capabilities.
“The Defender Europe 2025 exercise is being carried out successfully in the Republic of Kosovo,” Kurti noted.
U.S. Support Boosts Kosovo’s Defense Infrastructure and NATO Aspirations
The Defender Europe exercise, held annually, is designed to enhance readiness and cooperation among U.S. allies and partners across Europe. Kosovo’s active role in the 2025 edition not only strengthens regional security but also affirms its ambition to deepen ties with NATO.