In the face of internal hesitation, diplomatic obstacles, and Serbian influence, Kosovo forged its path toward the creation of an armed force with the support of NATO and the United States. A story of determination and quiet negotiations
By Baton HAXHIU
On a cold November day in 2017, in the symbolic village of Gllogjan, Ramush Haradinaj, then Kosovo’s prime minister, meets with an American general. In this crucial meeting, the general utters the words that would pave the way for a new chapter: “Make a list of actions and we will measure you one by one. If you do them all, there we are.” It was a conditional promise, but a clear guarantee – America would be there if Kosovo met the standards. But the path to creating the Kosovo army, now known as the Kosovo Security Force (KSF), was anything but simple. Hesitation in domestic politics, pressure from Serbia through the Brussels dialogue, and the resistance of some NATO members to keep the issue outside the framework of diplomatic agreements were just some of the main obstacles. In the midst of this, Haradinaj tried to keep this national project independent of other processes, including the dialogue with Serbia.
LIST BUILDING: FROM VISION TO ACTION
In January 2018, the action list was ready – a document that set out every necessary step that Kosovo needed to take to transform the KSF from a civilian force into a true military-mandated army. The list included legal reforms, training, equipment modernization, and clear commitments to Regional security. During this period, Haradinaj launched an intensified diplomatic offensive with NATO and US officials. In meetings with senior representatives of the Alliance in May and June 2018, a “Plan B” was created to avoid the political blockade created by the Serbian List, which refused to support the constitutional changes needed for the army. Instead, it was decided that the transition of the KSF to a military mandate would be accomplished through new laws, without constitutional changes.
STORY TWO: DECISIVE MOMENTS: MEETING “MAD DOG MATTIS”
September 2018 brought a major turning point. Haradinaj, with the three laws for the creation of the army in his hands, traveled to the United States to meet with the US Secretary of Defense, James Mattis. It was a meeting loaded with symbolism. At that table, Haradinaj told Mattis: “These are the laws that I sent you a few weeks ago, I came to receive your blessing for our army”. Mattis’s response was simple but decisive: “Yes, I received them. I bless the Kosovo army”. At the end of the meeting, Haradinaj presented Mattis with a map of Kosovo, adding: “We defend this country together”. This moment not only sealed American support, but gave a moral boost to the entire project.
THIRD STORY: YOU WON’T DO THE ARMY, PALMER SHOUTED
It was a quiet afternoon in Veternik, a neighborhood of Pristina, overlooking the mountains drenched in the late winter sunlight. Our table, set by a wide window in a popular restaurant, was filled with the aromas of traditional foods mixed with modern spices. Kosovo’s Prime Minister, Ramush Haradinaj, and his wife, Anita Haradinaj, were my companions for a lunch that had begun in a friendly spirit and had turned into deep reflections on Kosovo’s future. As we talked about the challenges and hopes of creating the Army, one of Haradinaj’s bodyguards approached the table, speaking in a hesitant tone. “Prime Minister, Mr. Matthew Palmer is urgently looking for you.” It was the United States special envoy for the Balkans, and his call was, without a doubt, urgent.
“Tell me I’m at lunch,” Ramushi replied in a calm but firm tone. “You’ve been pressuring me for three days,” he said, turning to us. “But I gave my word to Mattis and I will carry out his blessing to the end.”
The atmosphere at the table became slightly tense. As Haradinaj described the key moments of the NATO negotiations and the efforts to secure American support, the guard approached him again. “You insist, Mr. Palmer wants to talk to you now,” he said in a low voice. The prime minister picked up the phone and, with a calm that showed experience and determination, answered in English: “Order, Mr. Palmer.” The voice on the other end of the line was sharp and tense. “You should not do the Army. You dare not take actions where you decide without everyone’s approval,” Palmer said. Ramushi replied without hesitation: “You do your job, I am doing mine. I have received the approval and tomorrow I will vote on the laws.”
“Approval by whom?” Palmer asked, in a harsher tone. “That’s all I can say,” Haradinaj said. “The laws on the army will be voted on in Parliament tomorrow. That’s all I have. Thank you for the call.” With a quiet click, he hung up the phone and placed it on the table.
Palmer was pressing, but he did not know that Ramush Haradinaj had already reached a clear agreement with the Secretary of Defense, James Mattis, and the Secretary General of NATO. When he hung up the phone, Haradinaj did not seem worried. He was not rejecting Deputy Secretary of State Palmer, nor was he showing arrogance towards Palmer, but apparently, for Haradinaj, Mattis was much higher in the hierarchy. The approval for the Kosovo Army had been made directly with the Pentagon and the White House – a point that could no longer be discussed. Anita and I remained silent, surprised by his determination and calm. At that moment, he was not just a prime minister. He was the symbol of a state that does not give in to pressure, be it diplomatic or otherwise. The surrounding restaurant continued its usual life, with low voices and the footsteps of waiters bringing new dishes.
But for us, that afternoon was anything but ordinary. It was a reflection of the history that was unfolding before our eyes – the history of the birth of the Kosovo army.
FOURTH STORY: FINALIZATION AND INTERNATIONAL RESISTANCE
In December 2018, after months of lobbying and hard work, the Kosovo Assembly approved three laws that formalized the transition of the KSF into a full-fledged army. This step was met with mixed reactions in the international arena. Serbia strongly condemned this decision, while Spain, a NATO member that does not recognize Kosovo’s independence, demanded a review of the Alliance’s relations with Pristina. However, in January 2019, when the laws entered into force, Kosovo’s supporters within NATO, particularly the United States, pressed for no negative review of relations with the KSF. After a year of assessments and discussions, NATO confirmed its position, continuing cooperation with Kosovo.
THE LAST STORY: AN ARMY FOR THE FUTURE
The Kosovo Army, now the Kosovo Security Force, is the result of a long, arduous, and diplomatic effort. It was a project that required not only hard work and dedication, but also a clear strategy to overcome political and diplomatic obstacles. From a simple meeting in Gllogjan, to James Mattis’ blessing, this story is a testament to Kosovo’s determination to secure its future as a sovereign and independent state.
The creation of the Kosovo Army was not a random act or a spur-of-the-moment decision. It was the fruit of a long, thoughtful and careful process, based on a clear strategy and a close partnership with the United States of America. From the beginning, Kosovo knew that without American support and coordination with NATO, any attempt to establish a real army would face insurmountable obstacles, not only within the country but also in the international arena.
When Albin Kurti and many others later tried to use the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) as a political trophy, the difficult process of its establishment was often overlooked. But, as Ramush Haradinaj explained in detail this journey, amidst initial hesitations, complicated dialogue with NATO and pressure from Serbia, the message was clear: An army is made with a plan, perseverance and unwavering coordination with international allies. To create a real army, more than a structure was needed – a vision was needed. And that vision, supported by the United States, would guarantee that Kosovo had a defense force that belonged to the future.
At that crucial moment, when NATO and the United States placed Kosovo at a crossroads, Haradinaj told an American general in Gllogjan: “We will not stop. You measure us, we will fulfill all the conditions.”
And it was precisely that spirit of determination that kept Kosovo on its path, in the face of every obstacle. This is what we should learn from the history of the Kosovo Army – it is not a tale of the KSF’s hardships, but a clear example of how to build a national vision based on strong partnerships. In the television studio and during the election campaign, when Ramush Haradinaj talks about Kosovo’s path to NATO and the importance of coordination with allies, there is always a reference to the history of the creation of the Kosovo Army.
Those who are not informed about this process and this path should be careful when talking about it. Because this story shows that Haradinaj has not only taken this mission seriously, but he knows the path to NATO better than anyone else. This story is a testimony that cannot be ignored.
(Taken from Albanian Post)