Washington D.C., July 9, 2025 — President of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, stated during a panel discussion at Johns Hopkins University in Washington that Kosovo’s path to NATO membership is significantly less complex than that of Ukraine—and could be fast-tracked with the joint commitment of U.S. President Donald Trump and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte.
“Kosovo’s NATO membership is not as complex as Ukraine’s. It’s simpler in the sense that if the United States says it should happen, it will—because the U.S. is the most powerful and influential NATO ally,” said Osmani.
She emphasized that the synergy between President Trump and Secretary-General Rutte could be decisive in convincing the five remaining NATO members that do not recognize Kosovo’s independence—Spain, Slovakia, Romania, Greece, and Cyprus.
“Rutte is very much in sync with the U.S. President. If this duo wants this to happen, they can convince the non-recognizing states,” Osmani added.
The President highlighted that Spain, Romania, and Slovakia would require the greatest diplomatic efforts, while noting that Greece has never been a major obstacle for Kosovo.
Osmani also linked Kosovo’s NATO aspirations to broader economic and strategic benefits for the Alliance, underlining that Kosovo is ready to increase its defense spending to demonstrate commitment.
“You’d be gaining a member that contributes—a member that would immediately raise its defense spending to 5% of its GDP. I think that’s in the interest of all NATO members,” she said.
Osmani’s remarks come amid renewed focus on Kosovo’s international status and regional stability, especially in light of ongoing tensions in the Western Balkans.
