Savkovic: The declining trust in the region a cause for concern

Senior advisor of the ISAC Fund, Marko Savkovic, stated for Kosovo Online that the cooperation between the Albanian Armed Forces and the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) does not raise concern as long as it is not explicitly directed against anyone. However, he believes that a problematic signal, for both Belgrade and the region, would be if a military exercise were conducted simulating a large-scale military operation that could include offensive actions and territorial seizure.

The capacities of both sides, he says, are somewhat limited.

"Albania does not possess the kind of resources that it could, for example, transfer to Pristina or use to assist it in armament. It can help with training, and I assume their cooperation primarily refers to information sharing, joint participation in training and military exercises, planning for participation in military drills, and patrolling what they consider their mutual border. That should not be a major reason for concern for Belgrade," Savkovic said regarding the recent meeting between representatives of the General Staff of the Albanian Armed Forces and the KSF, where they discussed the bilateral cooperation plan for the period from 2025 to 2028.

He emphasized that, in principle, there is nothing problematic in cooperation focused on joint training and fulfilling the basic missions that armed forces have, and that it should be kept in mind that Kosovo and Albania see themselves as neighbors, and neighbors cooperate.

"The so-called interoperability is quite important for those countries that strive or wish to become part of NATO one day. Taken altogether, as long as this is not explicitly directed against anyone, we cannot say that it causes any serious concern," Savkovic said.

A problematic signal for both Belgrade and the region would be if a military exercise were to be conducted simulating a large-scale military operation that could include offensive actions and territorial seizure.

"However, I don’t see that Kosovo and Albania, even together, have that capacity. It is true that we have moved past the moment when war was completely ruled out. That is a major change that has occurred, because it is now entirely possible to imagine a renewed conflict, but I also believe there is enough reason left in the region. A conflict at this moment benefits no one except perhaps the Prime Minister of Kosovo. But I think all other actors are very aware of how delicate the regional balance is and how every action could further undermine the trust that is already largely depleted," Savkovic noted.

He believes that the cooperation plan between the KSF and the Albanian army would have been signed regardless of the fact that in March a declaration on defense and security cooperation was signed between Albania, Kosovo, and Croatia, which attracted significant attention and concern in Belgrade.

What should concern everyone, he warns, is the arms race in the region and the increase in defense spending.

"This is a trend occurring throughout Europe and spreading to this region as well. But here, it is simultaneously coupled with the steadily declining trust between actors. Belgrade has reason to be concerned in that sense, but it also must ask whether there is a way to restore trust, if it ever truly existed. We had a rather well-developed level of regional cooperation in the field of security and defense up until about ten years ago, and at one point, it reached such a high level that even security services were cooperating. Now, I have the impression that we are moving backward by years, and that should be a cause for concern for all of us," our interlocutor pointed out.