Lunic: Kosovo’s accession to NATO would be a precedent, but such a scenario shouldn’t be ruled out

Geopolitics and security consultant Nikola Lunic stated that it would be a precedent for NATO to admit Kosovo into the Alliance without meeting all the required criteria, but added that such a scenario should not be ruled out due to ongoing geopolitical upheaval.

Commenting on claims made by American experts that Kosovo could soon become a NATO member, Lunic said that every candidate must first meet clear requirements.

“At this moment, for a country to join NATO, it must fulfill several conditions. These include political, military, and security criteria, legal and technical alignment, and the consent of all NATO members. Lastly, and the only thing Pristina currently possesses, is public support within its own society,” Lunic explained.

He added that Kosovo does not meet even the most basic criterion, that of being a United Nations member.

“If a country is not internationally recognized and were to be admitted into NATO at this time, it would be a precedent I don't believe NATO is willing to set. However, considering the global geopolitical situation and widespread hysteria, such a scenario cannot be entirely dismissed,” Lunic stated.

On the other hand, he emphasized, Kosovo has secured the support of the most powerful NATO members, from the United States to the United Kingdom.

“They are advocating not only for Kosovo to meet all criteria for establishing its own armed forces, which is expected by 2028, but also for it to become a NATO partner and ultimately a full member,” the analyst said.

He clarified that this idea is currently unachievable.

“At the moment, it is not feasible, but we shouldn't be in a state of hibernation or bury our heads in the sand. It could become a reality in the foreseeable future,” Lunic warned.

When asked how Kosovo could take a “shortcut” into NATO, Lunic explained that the EU has already begun making some key decisions not by consensus, but by qualified majority.

He noted that NATO could adopt a similar model, given that four of its members are strongly opposed to Kosovo’s membership.

“In today's global geopolitical crisis, when an organization wants to make certain decisions, consensus is often bypassed and qualified majority voting is used. We have seen this in the EU, and there is no doubt that sooner or later, the same will happen in NATO. As a result, those countries that do not and will not recognize Kosovo could be sidelined from obstructing its full membership. I have no doubt that, with the influence of powerful nations such as Washington, Ankara, London, Paris, and Berlin, this will eventually come to pass,” Lunic said.

The solution for Serbia, he concluded, is to “focus on what its interest is and how to achieve it.”

“It is not in our interest to sit on the sidelines and lament others’ incompetence, or to play the victim like Calimero and say this isn’t international justice. We must do something,” Lunic concluded.