The powers have changed, as have the commanders, but the idea of the army has remained. In an often divided political scene, the building of the Kosovo Army is one of the rare processes that has continued without stopping.
This institutional consensus has ensured continuity in the transition, sustainable investments and continuous alignment with NATO standards.
According to retired General Naim Haziri, who has closely followed several phases of the development of the Kosovo Security Force, this force operates today according to modern war doctrines, has functional capacities for current threats and is expected to complete the transition to the army by 2028 – in accordance with the deadlines of the initial plan.
"I am very optimistic, even though this is the most important phase of the Force's establishment. Currently, air capabilities are being developed and combat regiments are being strengthened, with elements supporting operations. I am convinced that the KSF will reach full operational capabilities in the expected time and will be a credible force, interoperable with all NATO armies," Haziri tells Radio Free Europe's Expose program.
This journey began in 2018, when the Kosovo Assembly approved laws that opened the ten-year process of transforming the Kosovo Security Force into a fully-fledged army.
At the time, NATO - present in Kosovo with a peacekeeping mission since the post-war period - described this decision as "inappropriate at the time", due to tense relations between Kosovo and Serbia.
But, unlike her, the United States supported this step, describing the KSF’s transition as “historic” and confirming their commitment to supporting its professional development. Hashim Thaçi, then president of Kosovo and supreme commander of the KSF, said that the creation of the Kosovo army is the result of a century of sacrifices.
“I assure all communities in Kosovo, and especially the Serb community, that the KSF will continue to serve all citizens, without ethnic differences,” Thaçi said in December 2018.
The institutional discourse – the KSF as a force at the service of all citizens of Kosovo – was maintained unchanged even under the presidency of Vjosa Osmani.
“The boys and girls of our Force are ready to defend the territorial integrity and sovereignty of our state – the Republic of Kosovo – in every inch of it,” Osmani said in December 2022.
The KSF, even today, must obtain permission from the NATO mission in Kosovo, KFOR, to operate in the northern part of the country, where the majority population is Serb.
This operational restriction was imposed by former President Hashim Thaçi in 2013, through a letter sent to the then NATO chief, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, and remains in force.
Radio Free Europe asked the Kosovo Presidency whether it is considering revising the obligation for permission from KFOR for KSF operations in the north, on the eve of the completion of its transformation into an army, but has not yet received a response.
Contacted by REL, a NATO spokesperson said only that “since 2016, the NATO Advisory and Liaison Team – which is separate from KFOR – has provided significant support for the development of the Kosovo Security Force, within its initial civil protection mandate, through capacity building, education and coordination of training”. Over the years, the Kosovo Security Force has participated in a number of regional and international missions and activities, mainly within the framework of humanitarian, training and peacekeeping operations.
Recently, the acting Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, announced that the KSF will also participate in the International Stabilization Force for Gaza.
Currently, according to the Ministry of Defense, the form and capacity with which it could contribute to this peacekeeping force is being reviewed. Acting Deputy Minister of Defense, Shemsi Syla, confirms that the KSF has already met the target of 5,000 regular troops, while the reserve component of 3,000 members still needs to be completed.
Although the full composition of the KSF's armament has not been made public, the officially confirmed equipment ranges from armored vehicles to drones.
According to Syla, the capacities have been built in close cooperation with international partners and the armament and equipment are in line with NATO standards.
"The allies from whom we have purchased armaments include: the United States, Turkey, Croatia, Great Britain, Germany, Italy and others. Today, at this stage of establishment, but also tomorrow when we have full capacities, we will be ready to provide security," Syla tells Exposé.
The budget of the Ministry of Defense has increased significantly in recent years, tripling from 67.3 million euros in 2021 to 207.8 million euros last year.
The Security Strategy of the Republic of Kosovo for the period 2022-2027 clearly identifies Serbia and its territorial claims as the main threat to national security.
From the beginning, the creation of the Kosovo army has met with strong opposition from Serbia – the country that, over the past five years, has spent the most on the army in the entire Western Balkans. Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić has accused Pristina of “beating the drums of war” and endangering the Serbian community.
This discourse has fueled ongoing resistance among the Serbian community to the decisions of the Kosovo Government, the actions of the security forces and the extension of state authority, especially in the north. The climax of this clash was the armed attack on the Kosovo Police in Banjska in 2023.
A Kosovo Security Force soldier with her son at the “Adem Jashari” barracks. According to retired general Naim Haziri, Serbia remains the main threat, both military and non-military, to Kosovo. He specifically mentions hybrid threats, including cyber attacks, but emphasizes that the KSF, even now, has sufficient capacities to respond to any threat.
“When an army defends itself and an army attacks, then the proportion of forces is depending on the engineering that is prepared, three to one, five to one, eight to one… And the KSF, with the capacities it has today, is ready to protect the territorial integrity of the Republic of Kosovo at any time,” says Haziri.
However, he emphasizes the need for greater investment in the KSF personnel, underlining that their well-being is a key factor for the effectiveness and readiness of the force.
“I think there is room for more to be done for personnel. In the second phase, investments have been focused on purchasing weapons, but investment in personnel should not be ruled out, so that members are more motivated for the responsibilities they exercise,” he says.
Salaries in the KSF vary by rank – with the lowest for new recruits and the highest for lieutenant colonels and generals. The law allows for voluntary departure of members, and Ministry of Defense data shows that desertions occur every year – with a significant increase between 2021, when 50 soldiers left, and 2023, when their number reached 134. Acting Deputy Minister Shemsi Syla emphasizes the importance of continued support from international partners to provide training and equipment for soldiers. He adds that the KSF has managed to integrate all communities into its ranks, although participation from the Serb community remains a challenge.
"The Serbs have caused us the biggest problem. With threats and blackmail, they have managed to remove some members. In the competitions we have announced, there have been constant interest, but there continues to be fear," says Syla.
Thanks to cooperation with international partners and NATO standards, Syla says that the KSF is already prepared to join the Alliance - a goal expressed since the beginning of the transformation. The same position is supported by retired general Naim Haziri.
"Kosovo is much stronger than anyone thinks and sees - in all aspects," according to him.
And, NATO confirms to Radio Free Europe that the alliance "offers important military contributions to Kosovo", but that "the path to sustainable peace is political". Therefore, "NATO continues to strongly support the EU-facilitated dialogue" for the normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia... even though this process has long been blocked, without progress that would bring it out of the several-year stalemate./ REL
