Meeting between Albania, so-called Kosovo, and Croatia on military cooperation – Serbia responds urgently

The purpose of the meeting, according to the Serbian Ministry of Defense, is to deepen military cooperation and coordination, including specific security-related plans and activities.

The Ministry therefore considers this military alliance a pressure factor and a security challenge for Serbia and the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija, as well as a threat to regional peace.

“This action represents an open disregard for and gross violation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 and the Kumanovo Military-Technical Agreement. Kosovo and Metohija are an integral part of the Republic of Serbia, under UN administration, and KFOR is the only legitimate armed formation in the territory of Kosovo and Metohija, with a clearly defined mandate,” the Ministry’s statement reads.

The Ministry emphasizes that attempts to further institutionalize and strengthen the so-called Kosovo Security Forces through regional military arrangements constitute a direct blow to the international legal order and a serious threat to peace and stability in the region.

Such actions have the potential to produce long-term security consequences and destabilize conditions in the Western Balkans, the statement warns.

“The Republic of Serbia views this military alliance as a pressure factor and a security challenge for Serbia and the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija. Our country remains committed to maintaining peace, but at the same time clearly signals that it will not allow its vital national and defense interests to be jeopardized,” the Ministry of Defense added.

Meeting in Shkodra

Today, a meeting is being held in Shkodra between the chiefs of staff of the armed forces of Albania and Croatia and the commander of the so-called Kosovo Security Forces. Albanian Chief of General Staff Arben Kingji stated that the focus of the meeting is on deepening military cooperation through concrete plans.

Kingji noted on Facebook that the goal of the meeting is to strengthen military engagement and coordination in accordance with the defense cooperation agreement between Albania, Croatia, and Pristina.

On January 30, a meeting of Croatia, Albania, and Pristina took place in Zagreb at the level of directors for defense policy and armaments.

Albania, Croatia, and Pristina signed a memorandum on defense and security cooperation on March 18, 2025, in Tirana.

According to UN Security Council Resolution 1244, KFOR is the only armed force in Kosovo and Metohija.

However, in 2009, Pristina formed the so-called Kosovo Security Forces (KBS) from the Kosovo Protection Corps, the former so-called KLA, and in 2018 the Assembly of the provisional institutions, without Serbian representatives, passed a law transforming the so-called KBS into an army.