After receiving numerous reactions, Kosovo’s Minister of Defense, Ejup Maqedonci, has addressed the controversy regarding his statement that “Kosovo is currently building its own ammunition factory, and France still doesn’t have one.”
Maqedonci stated that France is one of the world’s leading producers of military systems, but emphasized that Kosovo is in the process of operationalizing its own ammunition production facility, while many EU countries have been lagging in this area.
“I never said that France doesn’t have military production. Of course, France is one of the major producers in the world of various military systems, including armaments. What I said, and I reiterate now, is that we are in the process of setting up a factory for ammunition production, while many EU countries are facing delays in this regard. France was mentioned as just one example.
France halted the production of ammunition in 1997, specifically for the calibers 7.62 and 5.56, which will now be produced in Kosovo as a result of a contract we signed in December. I would like to clarify that since 2022, there has been an ongoing and heated debate within the French political structures about reopening or reactivating a factory to produce these calibers, which are essential for the operational capacity of military units.
U.S. policy regarding EU countries has shifted, requiring partners to adopt a more serious approach to security, with more engagement and investment. This is the key point I emphasized in my statement at the panel.
We have anticipated what the U.S. is now requesting from other partners, and we are continually seeking other opportunities for cooperation with the U.S., both in terms of military procurement and the possibility of co-investing in the production and military industry in Kosovo,” he said in an interview with TëVë1.
