Kosovo has formally agreed to join the United States-backed International Stabilization Force in Gaza, signing a participation agreement on Monday. The move marks a strategic shift for the Balkan nation as it transitions from a security consumer into an international security exporter under Washington’s diplomatic framework.
Pristina Formalizes Agreement With US and Stabilisation Commanders
The formal agreement was signed in Pristina, Kosovo, by Kosovo Security Force Commander Lieutenant-General Bashkim Jashari and US International Stabilization Force Commander Major-General Jasper Jeffers. The ceremony was attended by representatives of the Board of Peace and the stabilization force.
The Board of Peace stated that Kosovo will provide critical support for the mission of advancing President Donald Trump’s 20-Point Peace Plan in Gaza. The U.S.-Israeli framework agreement was introduced a year ago to end the ongoing conflict, manage demilitarization, and oversee the training of a Palestinian police force in post-conflict Gaza.
“Representatives of the Republic of Kosovo, the Board of Peace & the International Stabilization Force signed the Participating Country Agreement for the inclusion of Kosovo in the ISF,”
Board of Peace
Transitioning From Security Consumer to Contributor
For officials in Pristina, the troop deployment represents a milestone in the country’s international standing after the 1998–1999 conflict with Serbia and the subsequent NATO intervention. Defense Minister Ejup Maqedonci outlined the shift in security posture during discussions leading up to the parliamentary approval process.
“Our country has been a security consumer, meaning NATO countries have contributed to the security of the Republic of Kosovo,”
Ejup Maqedonci, Defense Minister of Kosovo, via The Independent
Maqedonci noted that Kosovo is entering a phase where it is becoming a provider, or exporter, of security by contributing a contingent of several dozen security troops to the international force. Contributing to the international force is seen as proof of how far the country has come after declaring independence from Serbia in 2008, a split which Belgrade still does not recognize. Parliament in Kosovo was set to formally approve the government decision to send the troops to the International Stabilization Force under a U.S.-backed initiative following the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas last year.
Citizens in Pristina largely interpret the decision as both a moral obligation and a strategic milestone. Sabit Blaca, a resident of the capital, described the move as very positive, calling it progress for Kosovo and emphasizing what he sees as an obligation to reciprocate international support, stating, We have a duty to return the favor to the international community.
Other citizens framed the deployment as a step toward international consolidation, noting that participation signals trust, achievement, and integration into global structures, with one resident remarking, If you want to advance, you must enter the international arena and participate.
Political analyst Armend Demaku argues that participation carries institutional weight beyond the mission itself, noting that the Kosovo Security Force possesses the necessary operational capacities when operating alongside the United States, and that Kosovo must demonstrate reliability in strategic moments and avoid internal political blockages that could undermine its credibility. Mentor Vrajoli, director of the Kosovo Center for Security Studies, frames the decision within a longer historical arc, noting that more than 25 years after NATO intervention and the establishment of the Kosovo Force mission, Kosovo must transition from being primarily a security recipient.
Regional Commitments and International Alignment
Kosovo joins a coalition of nations committing personnel to the stabilization mission, including Indonesia, Morocco, Kazakhstan, Albania, and Uganda. Turkiye will not participate after Israel vetoed Ankara’s involvement.
The projected structure of the International Stabilization Force envisions an ultimate footprint of approximately 20,000 personnel. This includes 8,000 troops pledged by Indonesia—whose general is expected to serve as deputy commander—alongside 12,000 police officers drawn primarily from Egypt and Jordan.
Logistical Roadblocks and Implementation Timeline
While political agreements are advancing, actual deployment on the ground has met roadblocks due to disagreements on the timing of the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and the disarmament of Hamas. Israel’s government approved key legal measures to allow for the entry of the ISF to Gaza in July, with an official saying the force will operate in full coordination with the Israeli military, according to the Times of Israel.
Nikolay Mladenov, high representative for the Board of Peace, emphasized that broader implementation requires further steps, stating according to the Turkish state-run Anadolu Agency that Israel must implement its commitments under the Gaza peace roadmap for the process to move forward. Mladenov noted that We are still at the point at which we need to make sure that what has been agreed is going to be implemented and is going to change significantly the lives of the people in Gaza,
adding, Unfortunately, we’re not there yet,
and that discussions were continuing.
