Pata: The Albanian army and the KSF have long cooperated in logistics and humanitarian actions

Political analyst and editor at the daily newspaper Tema in Tirana, Ilir Pata, told Kosovo Online that the cooperation between the Albanian Armed Forces and the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) does not have a negative impact on the region. He said the structures of the Albanian military and the KSF have long had close relations, primarily in the areas of logistics and during humanitarian operations.

The recent meeting between representatives of the Albanian Armed Forces General Staff and the KSF, aimed at developing a bilateral cooperation plan for the next three years, is not a new example of military cooperation between Albania and Kosovo, according to Pata.

“The KSF has come to Albania during earthquakes or other natural disasters. We also have an agreement between Albania, Kosovo, and Croatia on military cooperation, which is in some ways a part of NATO obligations, since Albania has its military forces within KFOR in Kosovo, as does Croatia. NATO forces have been present in Kosovo since 2001. Their numbers have decreased, but these forces still fulfill a fundamental military role, such as guarding Kosovo’s borders,” Pata said.

He believes that military cooperation between Albania and Kosovo does not negatively affect the region.

“What matters most is that Albania, as a NATO member, understands that regional security and stability are more important for NATO than bilateral military relations between Albania and Kosovo, which in my view is not ‘warmongering.’ The Kosovo Security Forces and the Albanian military are not heavily armed compared to Balkan armies like those of Croatia or Serbia, which in recent years have significantly increased their supplies and weaponry. This cooperation cannot be seen as negative, as it contributes to what we call interactive cooperation, whether military or political, between actors in the region,” Pata said.

Serbia, which is not a NATO member but a neutral country, he noted, has had a long-standing tradition of joint activities with US forces.

“These activities take place in many locations in Serbia, involving various trainings and exercises, mostly in southern Serbia, in Nis and the Presevo area... and that is a good tradition showing a line of cooperation free from prejudice, promoting a more peaceful situation,” Pata explained.

He pointed out that the region includes various forms of military cooperation, citing Albania’s cooperation with both Croatia and Montenegro within NATO.

“We also have the example of the ‘Defender 2025’ military exercise, which involved several regional armies. Then there's the cooperation between Serbia and Hungary. There are also agreements between militaries for border protection. Hungary is also a NATO member and has very good relations with Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and even North Macedonia,” Pata concluded.