Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti promised that during a possible new governing mandate, over 1 billion euros in budget will be allocated for the Kosovo Security Force.
He said this during a government meeting, as he spoke about the four-year mandate of the executive. He said that the government he leads has achieved "extraordinary results" during the full constitutional mandate.
"The budget for the army has tripled, training abroad has quadrupled, investments in armaments have multiplied, including Bayraktar combat drones and the contract for the operationalization of the ammunition factory," Kurti said.
"In the new mandate, we will allocate over 1 billion euros to the army, we will have an ammunition factory and military drones 'Made in Kosovo', meaning that we produce them ourselves," he added.
In 2024, the budget allocated to the Ministry of Defense was 153 million, while this year it is 207.8 million.
Warnings about increasing the defense budget come at a time when the Kosovo Security Force is continuing the process of transforming into an army, and at a time when the state is taking steps to strengthen its defense.
Last November, Kosovo began the process of opening a factory to produce ammunition and signed an ammunition agreement with a manufacturer in Turkey – a country from which Kosovo has purchased drones for the army. The government also announced that it will have a laboratory for the design of unmanned aerial vehicles, known as drones.
In addition to seeking to produce weapons and ammunition, Kosovo is currently purchasing various weapons. From the United States, Kosovo is already in the process of purchasing over 200 Javelin anti-aircraft systems – which are expected to cost the state $75 million.
Kurti said that Kosovo also intends to purchase American Black Hawk helicopters for the KSF.
Meanwhile, in recent weeks, Kosovo has taken other steps to advance defense and security. This includes approving an initiative to conclude a landmark agreement to deepen cooperation with the United States in the field of defense and security, and a trilateral declaration with Albania and Croatia to strengthen defense.
The agreement with the US, according to the Government, will help Kosovo build strategic military capacities. Meanwhile, the declaration on cooperation with Albania and Croatia is said to contribute to peace in the region.
Kosovo's moves towards strengthening its defense and arms industry have been criticized by Serbia.
Belgrade has described as a "provocation" the initiative of Kosovo, Albania and Croatia to deepen cooperation on defense and security, arguing that it "undermines the stability of the region."
But, members of this initiative have said that they want to contribute to the stability and security of the region.
Kurti's promise to increase the defense budget comes at a time when Kosovo is expecting to create new institutions, following the parliamentary elections on February 9.
Kurti's party, the Vetevendosje Movement, has won the elections – but it has not won enough mandates to form a government on its own.
Kurti has said that he and LVV will lead the new executive, while LVV has said that they aim to form the Government in cooperation with non-Serb parties.
The main Albanian opposition parties, meanwhile, have expressed their opposition to cooperation with the LVV./ REL (A2 Televizion)
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