Prishtina, 21 April 2026
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, received the Ambassador of the United States of America to NATO, Matthew Whitaker.
During the meeting, Prime Minister Kurti thanked Ambassador Whitaker for the vital, continuous, and unwavering support of the United States of America for the Republic of Kosovo.
While expressing his gratitude, Prime Minister Kurti spoke about the close cooperation and partnership with the United States, including the training and education of members of the Kosovo Security Force, as well as the strengthening of defense capacities. He emphasized that Kosovo, in close cooperation with the United States of America, is committed to stability, peace, and security in the region and beyond.
Prime Minister Kurti assessed that the presence of NATO in the Republic of Kosovo, and particularly that of the United States, remains crucial for peace and security—not only in the country, but also in the region. He stressed that accelerating Kosovo’s membership in NATO would be an important contribution and would serve as a long-term guarantor of peace and security in the Balkans.
Speaking about the security situation in the Western Balkans, the Prime Minister said it remains fragile, as Serbia, supported by Russia and China, continues to pursue a hegemonic regional policy. He also referred to the militarization of the northern neighbor, highlighting recent acquisitions from Russia and China as threats to long-term regional stability and good neighborly relations in the Balkans. In this context, the Prime Minister mentioned Serbia’s forward operating bases along the border with the Republic of Kosovo.
