Politics
Sunday, August 23, 2026
Politics · Analysis · Developments
NATO Secretary General in Pristina: Our commitment to security in Kosovo remains unwavering
Pristina, 11 March 2025 – The NATO Secretary General, together with representatives of the North Atlantic Council and KFOR operational partners, today paid an official visit to Pristina. He was received by the President of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, with whom he discussed the security situation in Kosovo and the region. The Secretary General emphasized that his presence and that of NATO representatives in Kosovo is a concrete testament to the Alliance’s commitment to the stability of the country and the region. “NATO has supported peace and security in the Western Balkans for 30 years and our commitment remains strong today,” he said. He praised the role of KFOR as NATO’s largest and longest-running mission, operating under a United Nations mandate. During his speech, he praised the work of KFOR troops under the leadership of General Enrico Barduani, saying that they continue to work with dedication to ensure a safe and secure environment for all communities in Kosovo. He also mentioned the support that NATO provides to Kosovo’s security institutions through the Advisory and Liaison Team, which helps in capacity building, education and coordination of training. The Secretary General stressed that security in the Western Balkans is linked to the stability of the entire Euro-Atlantic region. He warned that “decades of hard-won peace must not be jeopardized”, adding that KFOR is fully prepared to respond to any security developments in Kosovo. He reiterated the importance of close cooperation between Pristina and KFOR, as part of NATO’s long-term commitment to stability in the region. In his speech, he stressed the importance of finding a sustainable peace and that NATO strongly supports the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, facilitated by the European Union. “The only solution to the outstanding issues and a secure future is through dialogue, where the rights of all communities are respected and protected,” he said. In this context, he called on both sides to show flexibility and make the necessary compromises to advance the normalization process. “I know these are difficult decisions, but we must focus on the long-term benefits. Normalization brings greater stability, more investment and sustainable security for the entire region,” he added. At the end of the visit, the NATO Secretary General thanked President Osmani for the hospitality and constructive discussions, emphasizing that NATO will continue to play a key role in supporting security and stability in Kosovo and the Western Balkans.
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LDK will not be part of any government without the position of Prime Minister
At a press conference following the LDK Presidency meeting, its chairman, Lumir Abdixhiku, reiterated the party’s position regarding participation in governance. “Our electoral and pre-electoral position has been that the LDK will not be part of any government without the position of prime minister. This continues to be our position now,” Abdixhiku stressed. He also underlined that the LDK is not interested in forming a short-term government and that political stability is an essential condition for guaranteeing stable governance. “We have also said that LDK does not intend and will not work for a short-term government. Without resolving the basic issue of the President, which determines the next national elections in Kosovo, LDK does not believe that there will be government stability and is not interested in short-term governments at all,” Abdixhiku declared. This position of LDK comes at a time when the political discourse in Kosovo is focused on the possibility of creating government coalitions.
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France Considers Protecting European Allies with Its Nuclear Weapons
French President Emmanuel Macron has suggested opening strategic discussions on the possibility of expanding French nuclear defense to European allies. In a televised speech on Wednesday, he stressed that France’s nuclear capabilities remain sovereign, but he is ready to discuss their role in guaranteeing European security. The initiative comes amid concerns about the United States’ commitment to Europe’s defense. Germany’s incoming Chancellor Friedrich Merz has warned that NATO could undergo changes by June and has called for a deeper review of French and British nuclear defenses as possible alternatives. As the European Union’s only nuclear power, France has about 290 nuclear warheads. Macron has stressed that the decision to use them will remain exclusively in the hands of the French president, reaffirming the country’s strategic autonomy. The proposal has provoked mixed reactions. Poland and the Baltic states have welcomed the idea, seeing it as an important step towards strengthening European defense. Meanwhile, Russia has condemned the initiative, calling it too confrontational.
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Zelenskyy: Ready to resign if it brings lasting peace and NATO membership
During a forum of government officials in Kiev, marking the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Zelenskyy stressed that he would be willing to step down if it would help his country reach a lasting peace agreement. “If in order to achieve peace it is necessary for me to give up my post, I am ready,” he declared. Answering a journalist’s question about whether he would trade the presidency for peace, Zelenskyy made it clear: “I would trade it for NATO.” His statement comes at a time when Ukraine continues to face Russian aggression and seeks strong security guarantees from the West. The statement comes at a time when high-level discussions have begun in Riyadh between American and Russian officials, with the aim of creating a framework for cooperation that would help end the war and normalize relations.
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Washington Removes Statement from State Department Website That It Does Not Support Taiwan Independence
The United States State Department has removed a statement from its official website that previously stated that Washington does not support Taiwan independence. The change has angered Beijing, with the Chinese Foreign Ministry calling the move a “wrong signal” to Taiwanese separatist forces and urging the US to “correct its mistake.” The US-Taiwan relations information page previously clearly stated: “We do not support Taiwan independence,” but that sentence was removed last week as part of a “routine” update by the State Department. China considers Taiwan a breakaway province that will one day be reunited with its territory, and has not ruled out the use of force to achieve that goal. Taiwan functions as a de facto state with an elected government, military, strong economy, and independent foreign policy, but is not a member of the UN due to China's opposition. Only a small number of countries officially recognize Taiwan as a sovereign state, but many countries, including the United States, maintain informal relations and support it in various areas.
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Ursula von der Leyen: Europe must shape its geopolitical future
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen gave a powerful speech at the Munich Security Conference (MSC), stressing the need for Europe to not just remain an observer of geopolitical changes, but to take an active role in shaping them. “Our task here at MunSecConf is not just to describe this new geopolitical landscape, but to shape it,” she declared. “And to shape it in a way that ensures that our European values are upheld and our interests are protected.”
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A Politics of Keeping Your Word, Not of Power at All Costs
The Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) has seen a significant increase in the recent elections, expected to reach around 180,000 votes and a percentage of 20%, up from just 12% previously. The party’s leader, Lumir Abdixhiku, described this as a return to the LDK’s base and a significant success after its historic decline. He stressed that, although the party did not win the race, this increase is a significant achievement and proof of citizens’ support for its platform and vision. In his reaction, Abdixhiku criticized the vote counting process, calling the Central Election Commission’s (CEC) delay in a task that, according to him, is basic and for which it had four years to prepare unacceptable. He stressed the need to resume the use of classic counting methods, expressing concern about the management of the electoral process. According to him, beyond the technical challenges, the election result reflects the will of the citizens, which he and the LDK fully respect. Speaking about the future, Abdixhiku said that the LDK will continue to keep its promises and maintain a high standard of politics, not seeing power as an end in itself. He called for unity within the party and patience until the counting is completed, expressing his belief that “there will be light again.”
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LDK concludes campaign in Pristina with grand rally
The Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) has concluded its final election campaign rally in Pristina, marking a key moment in its political journey towards the elections. The rally was characterized by a large turnout of supporters and party members, who expressed their support for the LDK’s vision for the future of Kosovo. In his speech to the supporters, LDK leader Lumir Abdixhiku emphasized the sense of unity and commitment to democratic values, thanking all those who had supported him during the campaign. At the end of his speech, he called for an unstoppable effort to protect and build a better Kosovo, emphasizing that the Republic of Kosovo is not divided into parties or narrow interests, but represents a common dream and mission for all citizens. “There is one Kosovo and one Kosovo only. There is one dream and one dream only. There is one mission and one mission only. Our republic is our dream itself! Change today, is our mission!” The LDK rally in Pristina marked the culmination of a long and dynamic campaign, with high expectations for the outcome of the upcoming elections.
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Abdixhiku reads the speech written by his wife, Albina
During a meeting with women in Gjilan, Abdixhiku read a speech by his wife, Albina, which caused laughter and cheers. “All these meetings, journeys, debates with men who think they know everything, I said: who is the most capable today to write me a speech? I said: I am leaving it to Albina to write me a speech. I did this because in this house of ours, like in every other Albanian house, men pretend to be the ones deciding, but women decide at the end of the day” I took the speech from her and I am reading it as it was written to me, because at the beginning of the speech there is a title that says: "If you change just one word, don't come home." – said Abdixhiku. “This is a historic moment for women. It is the moment when women must take control again. Men are a project still in progress, and women are trying to improve that project every day. Men are like an experiment that has not yet reached the final version. Some of them are still in the testing phase, others are still in the 90s, but women are the most advanced version. We will create a law that prohibits men from saying “I was tired at work today” in front of women. While women have prepared the food, raised the children, kept the whole house – it will be forbidden to say “I was tired” in front of women. And finally we will establish a new system in government, where women decide for their own fate, for the fate of the Republic, and men follow their orders. Because, frankly, men have been trying for years – Kosovo becomes possible only if women decide for it.”
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Trump claims that Grenell is among his most trusted people.
During a press conference, Trump confirmed that Richard Grenell remains one of his most trusted men. He added with humor: “The happiest day in Angela Merkel’s history was when I removed Grenell from the post of ambassador to Germany and put him in charge of US intelligence.”