The US supports Kosovo’s plan to join NATO’s Partnership for Peace program, according to US Ambassador Julianne Smith told Radio Free Europe.
In an interview RFL, Smith spoke about the Western Balkans, the upcoming Madrid summit, and Finland and Sweden’s request to join the Alliance.
“The United States supports Kosovo’s integration into European or Euro-Atlantic organizations and institutions. We believe that countries should have the right to determine their union and membership. We would certainly support Kosovo’s move towards the Partnership for Peace program,” Smith said about Kosovo.
Recently, Kosovo applied for membership to the Council of Europe.
Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti has expressed also the country’s desire to join Partnership for Peace, a NATO program for cooperation with non-member countries in Europe.
Nevertheless, Smith highlighted that all NATO decisions must be unanimous.
“[E]verything that happens here in the NATO alliance happens by consensus…where all 30 states must agree on it. So, this will be a decision that will have to be taken by consensus if Kosovo decides to try to move towards a Partnership for Peace,” she specified.
“We are all very worried about peace and stability in the Western Balkans… So, the US will support Kosovo in its determination and efforts towards the Partnership for Peace,” Smith continued.
During the interview, Smith also said that after Russia attacked Ukraine on February 24, NATO met with all members to review their security needs.
All NATO member states are expected to meet in Madrid on June 29 and 30 for their next summit.
