Kurti announces 1 billion euros for defense, Haxhiu reiterates NATO at the graduation of KSF cadets

At the graduation ceremony for the 2026 class of Kosovo Security Force cadets, the country’s top leaders, representatives of the Ministry of Defense, the KSF, international partners, and the cadets’ family members took part.

Before the event began, Acting President Albulena Haxhiu and the Commander of the Kosovo Security Force, Lieutenant General Bashkim Jashari, welcomed Prime Minister Albin Kurti.

The cadets, who are marking the completion of their military education and the beginning of their professional journey in service of the country, were expected to receive their diplomas and swear an oath to serve the Republic of Kosovo, while speeches by institutional leaders and KSF officials were also scheduled during the ceremony.

At the event, Haxhiu said that Kosovo’s membership in NATO remains the country’s strategic objective, while stressing that the Kosovo Security Force is building up its professional capacities in line with the highest Euro-Atlantic standards.

She said that the war of the Kosovo Liberation Army and the sacrifice of the family of the legendary commander Adem Jashari remain the foundations of Kosovo’s freedom, calling on the young officers to carry out their duty with honesty, integrity, and responsibility.

“This day belongs first and foremost, of course, to you, cadets. It belongs to your families, whom I thank from the bottom of my heart for the effort, discipline, and upbringing they have given you. It belongs to the academy that prepared you and to the Kosovo Security Force, which today welcomes into its ranks young officers prepared for the greatest responsibilities of their lives,” she said.

According to Haxhiu, graduation closes an important stage in the cadets’ development and opens a new phase of responsibility for them, as over the past four years they have gone through a full academic and military process.

“Dear cadets and, from today, young officers. With your graduation, an important chapter in your formation comes to an end and an extraordinary responsibility begins as officers of the Republic. Four years ago, you began this journey with dreams, ambitions, and an unwavering will to serve the homeland. During these years, through the integrated academic and military program, you have gained university-level knowledge and at the same time gone through military education, training, and formation at the Defense Academy of the Kosovo Security Force. The training you have received has instilled discipline and a clear understanding of the responsibility an officer bears. Modern equipment, technology, and new standards have raised expectations for people who know how to think clearly, remain calm, and act quickly and with integrity,” she said.

Haxhiu also underlined that military rank is not simply decoration on a uniform, but a burden of responsibility that must be proven through professionalism and integrity.

“The ranks you will carry on your shoulders from today are not simply decoration on your uniform. An officer earns trust through conduct, honesty, care for the people entrusted to them, and the willingness to take responsibility even when decisions may be difficult,” she said.

At the same ceremony, Acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti said that the graduation of the 2026 class is being accompanied by commitments for new investments in defense and calls for dedication to the state.

He announced that the aim in the next mandate is to invest 1 billion euros in defense, build an ammunition factory, and increase the number of girls in the army’s ranks.

Kurti stressed that, alongside modern equipment and investments, the most important pillar of the army remains soldiers who are well prepared and loyal to the homeland.

“From today you are not only young officers, but also the future leaders of our army. During these four years you have experienced difficulties, challenged yourselves, and been required to achieve results. During this period you have been entrusted with high values, values that will accompany you in every duty you will have as officers of the Republic. The Government of Kosovo during these years has placed defense among its main priorities,” Kurti said.

He added that a modern military force is not built solely on the basis of investments in military equipment.

“This is the essential component of the Security Force. To have an army that is prepared, trained, and equipped with modern equipment is not enough if our army is not distinguished by devoted people who love the homeland more than themselves,” he said.

Speaking about plans for the next mandate, Kurti announced major investments in the field of defense.

“In the next mandate we will invest 1 billion euros, we will have 1,000 girls as part of our army. We will have our own factory for the production of ammunition, we will have our own ammunition, but most importantly, we will continue to have soldiers who are more prepared and more educated than ever before, because part of our army are precisely these girls,” he said.

Also speaking at the ceremony was the commander of the Center for University Studies, Major Mimoza Buteci, who gave the cadets messages on how they should carry out their profession.

She stressed that officers must place the interests of the state and the institution above personal interests.

“You chose to place the interests of others, the needs of the institution and of others before your own personal needs and interests. Therefore, do not forget that duty, honor, and the homeland must be your guides before every decision you make as leaders of the army,” Buteci said.