“Kosovo Is Not Alone,” says Foreign Minister Ferit Hoxha: Any threat to Pristina’s security is also a threat to Tirana

Responding to Vučić’s remarks, Albania’s Foreign Minister Ferit Hoxha told Top Channel journalist Muhamed Veliu that “Albania will not become part of rhetoric that fuels tensions, but will continue to act as a factor of stability, with prudence and in full coordination with its allies.”

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Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, following a meeting with senior defense and military officials two days ago, said that “the security situation is somewhat more complex than in January, mainly due to the continued actions and activities of the military alignment between Albania, Croatia, and Kosovo.”

Albanian diplomacy has so far maintained a measured tone, even as Serbia continues to expand its military capabilities, including through cooperation with China and Russia.

Responding to Vučić’s remarks, Albania’s Foreign Minister Ferit Hoxha told Top Channel journalist Muhamed Veliu that “Albania will not become part of rhetoric that fuels tensions, but will continue to act as a factor of stability, with prudence and in full coordination with its allies.”

Full statement by Foreign Minister Ferit Hoxha

Albania has chosen not to respond publicly to repeated statements from Serbia’s highest authorities, including President Vučić.

That said, I want to be very clear—and I thank you for the opportunity:

First, claims of a so-called “tripartite alliance” against Serbia are unfounded and entirely exaggerated. Repeating them does not make them true. Albania is not part of any regional or other arrangement directed against any country in the region. We share the same approach with our regional partners and allies, including Croatia. The only alliance Albania belongs to is NATO, alongside Croatia, North Macedonia, Montenegro, and other allies—an alliance whose doors remain open to Serbia as well.

Our foreign policy is grounded in cooperation, good neighborly relations, and the European integration of the region. Within this framework, cooperation with partners aims to strengthen stability and security, as well as to support the Republic of Kosovo on its Euro-Atlantic path—not against anyone, and certainly not against Serbia. This is a sovereign choice of Kosovo’s institutions and citizens, and Albania will continue to support it constructively.

Second, Albania has deliberately chosen not to engage in unnecessary rhetoric, and even less in escalation. Exchanges of statements are easy; consistency in policy and clarity in position matter more. Our approach is demonstrated through concrete engagement in NATO, the Berlin Process, and every regional or broader initiative that advances stability, security, and development. These positions have been clearly communicated to our counterparts in Serbia and will continue to be conveyed calmly and consistently.

Third, such narratives are often used for domestic purposes or to justify specific policies. Albania neither can nor should become part of this discourse, which does not serve peace, trust, or cooperation in the region. Instead, we believe that transparency, regional cooperation, and respect for international commitments remain the only viable path to sustainable security.

At the same time, while fully supporting Kosovo—its development, modernization, and Euro-Atlantic advancement—Albania remains committed to building normal and constructive relations with Serbia. This reflects both our principles and a broader vision: a region that does not forget the past, but works to overcome it through dialogue, cooperation, and European integration. The Balkans’ tragic history is a shared lesson; its European future must be the shared objective.

Albania remains firmly anchored in its strategic direction: a stable, secure region integrated into the European Union. We will continue to act responsibly, with restraint and in close coordination with international partners—unmoved by statements that do not reflect reality, and focused instead on contributing to long-term peace and stability.

Let me go a step further, because it is important to avoid any impression of inattention or indifference.

Facts must be clearly distinguished from perceptions. Serbia has indeed increased its military capacities and expanded cooperation in this field with various actors, including Russia and China. This is its sovereign choice. It has not gone unnoticed—whether in Tirana, Brussels, or Washington. At the same time, it should not be used to create alarm or to justify unnecessary escalation in the region.

For years—indeed decades—Albania has not based its security, or that of the region, on rhetoric or raised voices, but on a concrete security architecture. As a NATO member, every regional development is viewed and addressed within this framework. This remains the strongest guarantee of peace and stability.

As for Kosovo, our position is clear and consistent: Albania firmly supports its sovereignty and territorial integrity and condemns any action or rhetoric that undermines stability, whether in the north or elsewhere. At the same time, maintaining calm, avoiding provocation, and advancing through EU-facilitated dialogue remain essential.

KFOR’s role should not be misunderstood. It is not present as a formality, but as a core instrument of international security—deployed to guarantee and consolidate peace on the ground. Its presence provides a tangible security guarantee for all citizens of Kosovo. Acting in close coordination with Kosovo’s institutions and international partners, it helps prevent escalation and respond swiftly to potential risks.

In this context, KFOR also serves as a key deterrent against any action that could destabilize northern Kosovo or the wider region. Its presence sends a clear message: security in Kosovo is not left without guarantees, but is anchored in a robust international security architecture, with NATO and its allies playing an indispensable role.

For this reason, developments on the ground must be understood within this broader framework: Kosovo is not alone, and peace there is a shared international priority. We have said it before and will repeat it: any threat to Kosovo’s security is also a threat to Albania’s security.

The appropriate response to militarization is not to mirror it, but to deepen cooperation with allies, strengthen defensive capacities responsibly, and invest in long-term stability. Albania is doing exactly that. As part of its development, it is also advancing its defense industry in close cooperation with partner countries. This was among the focuses of Prime Minister Rama’s recent visit to Italy. Just two days ago, a second round of high-level dialogue was held in Brussels within the framework of the EU–Albania partnership on security and defense.

As Albania advances in its EU accession process, it has for years been a reliable partner in the fields of peace, security, and defense, and an active contributor to the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy, including through participation in missions and operations that support regional and international stability.

In closing, peace is not weakness, and restraint is not inaction.

It is a strategic choice.

Albania will not engage in rhetoric that fuels tensions, but will continue to act as a factor of stability—calmly, responsibly, and in full coordination with its allies, with a clear focus on security, peace, and the European future of the region.