Gjakova, June 3, 2025
The Acting Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, together with the President of the Republic, Vjosa Osmani-Sadriu, and the Acting Minister of Defense, Ejup Maqedonci, observed the international field exercise “Defender Europe 25”, held at the tactical training ground in Babaj i Bokës.
In front of numerous attendees, including American generals from the U.S. Army, officers and military personnel from Albania, Croatia, Bulgaria, and North Macedonia, Acting Prime Minister Kurti stated that this highly significant exercise for Kosovo’s army has enabled the country to showcase and demonstrate its strength and interoperability with NATO, thereby reinforcing Kosovo’s cause: that membership in NATO is not only beneficial for Kosovo but also represents a contribution Kosovo is ready to make.
“Defender Europe 25 includes a total of 29 countries, and we have had the privilege of being among the 18 host countries. In total, 25,000 soldiers have participated, with 938 troops from the Kosovo Security Force. Cooperation and training bring out the best in both the army and its soldiers – officers, NCOs, and troops – and this has been evident throughout these nearly 10 days since the start of this exercise,” said Prime Minister Kurti.
He emphasized that the army has doubled in size, overseas training has quadrupled, the defense budget has tripled, and spending on ammunition and armaments has increased a hundredfold – all in cooperation with the United States of America and other allied and partner nations.
Regarding the tactical training ground where the exercises took place, Prime Minister Kurti said it is becoming one of the premier training zones in the region and beyond. He noted that “4,500 hectares of land have been expropriated, and the Ministry of Defense is now the official owner of land in Babaj i Bokës, Devë, and Shishman, which demonstrates the government’s commitment to ongoing training that enhances the capabilities and readiness of the Kosovo Security Force”.
At the end of his speech, the Prime Minister thanked the U.S. Army generals, all officers and troops, stating that together we are not only strong, but much stronger, and the State of Kosovo has never been more powerful or more secure.
Full Speech by Prime Minister Kurti:
Good afternoon to everyone gathered here for this highly significant exercise – for our army, for our cooperation with the United States of America, and with other NATO partners, in this case specifically the Republic of Albania, the Republic of Croatia, the Republic of North Macedonia, and the Republic of Bulgaria.
We have succeeded in showcasing and demonstrating our strength, our interoperability with NATO, and by doing so, reinforcing our cause – that Kosovo’s NATO membership is not just for our benefit but also represents a valuable contribution we are ready to make.
In Defender Europe 25, 29 countries are participating, and we have had the privilege of being among the 18 host countries. A total of 25,000 soldiers have taken part, with 938 from the Kosovo Security Force. Cooperation and training bring out the best in both the army and the soldiers – officers, non-commissioned officers, and troops – and this has clearly been demonstrated over these past ten days since Defender Europe 25 exercise began.
All the armaments you see here on display have been purchased over the last three years, with the exception of a single “Heckler & Koch” automatic weapon.
All the weaponry you see here has been purchased over the past three years. We have doubled the size of the army, quadrupled foreign training, tripled the defense budget, and increased spending on ammunition and weaponry by a factor of 100 – all in collaboration with the United States of America and our other allies and partners.
During this exercise, you witnessed the skill of our military personnel, but we also have the honor and privilege of being on this training ground, which is becoming one of the best in the region and beyond. We have expropriated 4,500 hectares of land, and now the Ministry of Defense is the owner of land in Babaj i Bokës, Devë, and Shishman, as a sign of our continued commitment to training that improves the capabilities and capacities of the Kosovo Security Force.
I would like to once again thank the U.S. Army generals who are here with us, all the officers and soldiers whom I have had the honor of visiting in previous days, and also thank all those participating from Albania, Croatia, Bulgaria, and North Macedonia.
Together, we are not only strong – we are much stronger. The State of Kosovo has never been more powerful or more secure.
Thank you, Minister, President, U.S. Generals, and all others present here.
