Kosovo and the US discuss strengthening the strategic alliance and the path towards NATO

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani met in Washington with US top diplomat Marco Rubio at the US State Department.

Osmani announced that she discussed with the US Secretary of State the possibilities of strengthening the alliance between Kosovo and the United States, as well as concrete steps that, according to her, are of vital importance for the citizens of Kosovo.

She stressed that she thanked Rubio for Kosovo's inclusion in the Peace Board, for the continued American support for Kosovo's sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as for the American military presence in the country, which she described as key to regional peace and stability.

The focus of the conversation was also the importance of Kosovo's membership in NATO, as well as the opening of new chapters of cooperation in the fields of economy and defense, within the framework of the strategic partnership between the two countries.

The meeting at the State Department took place on the 18th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Kosovo and the United States.

Kosovo declared independence on February 17, 2008, and the United States was among the first countries to recognize the new state. Pristina considers the alliance with Washington fundamental to the country's state-building and security.

The US continues to play an important role in Kosovo's security through the presence of around 600 peacekeeping troops as part of the NATO mission in Kosovo, KFOR.

According to a statement from the Presidency of Kosovo, this presence is of strategic importance for the stability of the country and the region.

A day before the Osmani-Rubio meeting, the Pentagon told Radio Free Europe that there are no changes to the deployment of US forces in Kosovo, following reports that the US is asking NATO to reduce some external commitments, including the KFOR mission.

President Osmani described Kosovo's NATO membership process as vital for regional stability and called for the advancement of cooperation in the field of defense.

She mentioned that Kosovo, which is in the process of transforming its Security Force into an army, has intensified its defense purchases in recent years. The latest armaments have been provided mainly by the US, Turkey, Germany and other NATO member countries.

At the meeting at the State Department, Osmani and Rubio also discussed the bilateral Strategic Dialogue.

The President of Kosovo emphasized the importance of advancing this dialogue as a mechanism for coordinating common priorities and opening new chapters of cooperation in various fields.

Osmani has been in the US for two days. On February 19, she participated in the inaugural meeting of the Peace Board, an initiative of US President Donald Trump to end conflicts around the world.

Kosovo is a founding member of this board, which is envisaged in Trump's 20-point plan for peace in Gaza, and has expressed its willingness to contribute military troops as part of this initiative.

The Geopost