Through a presidential decree, Kosovo’s President Vjosa Osmani has aligned the country’s list of foreign terrorist organizations with that of the United States.
Among the entities added to the list are drug cartels, as well as Ansar Allah from Yemen (Houthi rebels).
President Osmani emphasized that Kosovo stands with the U.S. in the fight against transnational organized crime, terrorism, drug cartels, and criminal regimes, stating:
“History shows a simple truth: when America leads, there is more peace, more security, and more freedom globally. Kosovo will always stand with the U.S. to advance this vision and fight all those who threaten the national security of our most important ally.”
The decree references two executive orders issued by former President Donald Trump in January 2025. Through these orders, the U.S. designated several drug cartels and other groups as foreign terrorist organizations.
Key organizations included:
- Cártel del Golfo
- Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación
- Cártel de Sinaloa
- Cártel del Noreste
- Carteles Unidos
- La Nueva Familia Michoacana
- Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13)
- Tren de Aragua
- Ansar Allah / Houthi rebels (Yemen) – supported by Iran
Previously, during Trump’s first presidential term, the Houthi rebels were designated as a foreign terrorist organization, a decision later reversed by the Biden administration due to concerns over humanitarian aid delivery to Yemen.
Kosovo has a precedent of harmonizing its terrorist organization lists with U.S. designations, including the 2020 decision to declare Hezbollah from Lebanon a terrorist organization.
