The former Minister of Defense of the Republic of Kosovo, Armend Mehaj, has given an exclusive interview to RTV Dukagjini, marking his first interview with a Kosovo media outlet or journalist during and after the completion of his mandate at the head of the Ministry of Defense.
In this detailed interview, Mehaj speaks openly about the security situation in the country, the development and modern armament of the Kosovo Security Force (KSF), the establishment of a defense industry, and Kosovo’s strategic path toward NATO membership.
Mehaj, a former military officer, provides direct explanations regarding state-to-state agreements he personally negotiated for arms procurement, Kosovo’s real military capabilities, and the role of the KSF within the regional and Euro-Atlantic security architecture.
This exclusive interview comes at a sensitive moment for security in the Balkans, amid warnings about Serbian mercenaries and ongoing regional tensions, offering a clear perspective from the man who led the most significant transformation of Kosovo’s armed forces since the post-war period.
Nevertheless, Mehaj emphasizes at the outset of the interview that security in Kosovo is at its highest historical level, thanks to the systematic development of defense capacities and the modern armament of the KSF in coordination with the United States and NATO partners.
“Security in the Republic of Kosovo today is at a significantly higher and more stable level than at any other historical period. The transformation of the Kosovo Security Force, especially in recent years, has made Kosovo’s territory far more difficult for any destabilizing attempt or external threat. Any attempt to undermine the country’s security today is confronted with an entirely new reality,” Mehaj stated.
He warns that Serbian mercenaries and Serbia’s military structures remain closely linked to Russian interests, positioning Serbia away from Euro-Atlantic integration.
One of the key points of the interview is the armament of the KSF. Mehaj confirms the acquisition of unmanned aerial vehicles “Bayraktar” and “Puma,” OMTAS anti-tank systems, as well as other advanced equipment from Türkiye and partner states.
“Kosovo is militarily stronger than it is commonly perceived by the public. Moreover, the country has extraordinary military capacities, which have also been recognized by other states in the region. Some of them, despite having joined the North Atlantic Alliance before us, have shown interest and respect for the development and professionalization of the Kosovo Security Force,” Mehaj said.
It is recalled that, for the first time, Kosovo has taken concrete steps toward building its own defense industry. Mehaj considers this one of the greatest achievements of his mandate.
“A major challenge, which at the same time represents one of the most important achievements, has been the initiation and concretization of the defense industry in the Republic of Kosovo, starting with the establishment of domestic ammunition production,” he said.
The former minister is convinced that Kosovo’s membership in NATO is inevitable, but stresses that the process requires coordinated state-level engagement.
However, he reiterates that membership is not only a military issue, but a state matter.
“I have consistently emphasized and I repeat it now: Kosovo will inevitably become the 33rd member state of NATO. Kosovo does not join NATO as an army, but as a state. For this reason, all state mechanisms must engage in a coordinated manner,” former Minister Mehaj stated.
