Kosovo’s Ministry of Defense will sign a landmark five-year defense cooperation agreement with the United States on June 13, marking a significant milestone in the country’s strategic and military alignment with Washington.
Acting Minister of Defense Ejup Maqedonci announced the upcoming agreement during an interview, emphasizing that this is the first official defense framework between the Ministry of Defense of Kosovo and the U.S. Department of Defense.
“This agreement covers several key areas of cooperation and will be valid for a five-year period,” Maqedonci said. “It includes joint arms and ammunition production with the United States, as well as integrated air defense systems to protect Kosovo from potential aerial threats.”
A Step Toward Stronger U.S.–Kosovo Defense Ties
According to Maqedonci, this is Kosovo’s second high-level defense agreement of this nature—following a previous deal signed with Turkey—and represents a new era of strategic security partnerships for the country.
“This agreement signifies the trust of the United States in Kosovo’s defense institutions and military professionalism,” Maqedonci stated. “It also paves the way for deepened industrial defense cooperation, which includes co-developing modern weapons systems.”
Kosovo Takes the Lead in “Defender Europe 2025”
Maqedonci also discussed Kosovo’s active participation in the multinational military exercise Defender Europe 2025, where nearly 1,000 Kosovar troops were deployed in Kosovo, Albania, North Macedonia, and Croatia.
For the first time, Kosovo led the tactical division command coordinating activities across Southeast Europe—a role previously reserved for more established military powers.
“This leadership role was achieved not through NATO’s existing mission, but via direct cooperation between our Ministry and the U.S. Department of Defense,” Maqedonci emphasized.
He described the development as one of the greatest accomplishments in Kosovo’s defense diplomacy, further reinforcing the credibility of Kosovo’s security forces on the international stage.
Reflections on Past Challenges and the Future Ahead
Reflecting on the 2023 cancellation of the “Distinguished Visitors Day” during a previous exercise, Maqedonci acknowledged the setback but noted it was a decision made by a non-Kosovar institution and outside national control.
“Despite that challenge, the trajectory of our defense cooperation with the United States continues to grow stronger, and this new agreement proves it,” he concluded.
