Prishtina, 21 May 2026
The Acting Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, held a virtual meeting with U.S. Congressmen Keith Self, Ritchie Torres, Mike Lawler, and George Latimer, who several weeks ago introduced two important resolutions concerning Kosovo in the United States House of Representatives.
In addition to expressing gratitude for the continued and unwavering support of the United States of America, Acting Prime Minister Kurti conveyed his deep appreciation for Resolution No. 1246, which supports the aspirations of the Republic of Kosovo to become part of the North Atlantic Alliance, and Resolution No. 1250, which calls for the continued contribution of U.S. forces within KFOR.
Acting Prime Minister Kurti emphasized that NATO’s presence in Kosovo and Kosovo’s membership in NATO are key priorities for the Government, adding that they are essential for security in the region. In this context, he particularly highlighted the congressmen’s call on the four non-recognizing member states of the Alliance to recognize the Republic of Kosovo, thereby opening the door for the country’s NATO membership.
Stressing that this would represent an extraordinary enhancement of regional security, as well as being in the strategic interest of the United States and NATO, Acting Prime Minister Kurti reiterated the position of the Government of Kosovo that Camp Bondsteel should become a permanent base of the U.S. military.
He informed the congressmen that this week the Government had taken the initial step toward establishing a Gendarmerie force, emphasizing that its purpose is to assist in fulfilling national security objectives, such as combating smuggling and terrorism, as well as protecting critical infrastructure. Acting Prime Minister Kurti stressed that the Gendarmerie is not intended to replace KFOR, but rather to serve as its close partner.
Mentioning that the Framework Agreement on Defence Cooperation with the U.S. Department of Defense is in the final stages of completion, Acting Prime Minister Kurti stated that cooperation between the two countries in this field is stronger than ever.
At the conclusion of the conversation, Acting Prime Minister Kurti and the four congressmen agreed to continue close cooperation in the field of defence and security, in line with the shared values of Kosovo and the United States.
