This, according to a statement published on the official website of Congressman Keith Self, aims to highlight the strategic importance of this process.

Meanwhile, today there was also a reaction from the Acting President of the Republic of Kosovo, Albulena Haxhiu, who said she welcomes the presentation of the resolution in the United States Congress supporting Kosovo’s membership in NATO.

“I am grateful to Representatives Keith Self, Ritchie Torres and Mike Lawler for their leadership and for their continued support for Kosovo to take its rightful place in the Euro-Atlantic family,” Acting President Haxhiu emphasized.

The resolution states that Kosovo’s democratic governance, civilian control over security forces, and multiethnic coexistence present a strong case for NATO membership. It also stresses that, according to the announcement, in a context where hostile actors continue to destabilize the region, Kosovo’s membership in the alliance would serve as a counterbalance to discourage such actions and prevent further escalation in the Balkans.

Kosovo declared its independence in 2008 and has been recognized by more than 100 countries, including the United States and most NATO member states. However, according to the same announcement published on Congressman Keith Self’s website, the lack of unanimous recognition within the Alliance remains an obstacle to Kosovo’s progress toward membership.

The document notes that four NATO member states—Greece, Romania, Slovakia, and Spain—have not yet recognized Kosovo. Since NATO operates by consensus, this situation represents an obstacle to Kosovo’s inclusion in membership mechanisms, including the Partnership for Peace and the Membership Action Plan.

The resolution calls on these countries to reconsider their positions, emphasizing that broader recognition of Kosovo is essential for its advancement toward NATO and for closing a strategic gap in Southeast Europe.

In the statement published on Congressman Keith Self’s website, he is quoted as saying that “Kosovo has demonstrated commitment to regional stability and alignment with NATO countries, but its progress is being hindered by the lack of recognition from some allies.” He also adds that “adding Kosovo to the alliance is important for countering the influence of adversaries in Europe.”

The statement further emphasizes that Kosovo’s integration into NATO is important for the security interests of the United States in Southeast Europe.

The leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo, Ramush Haradinaj, also thanked the American congressmen Keith Self, Ritchie Torres, and Mike Lawler for introducing a resolution in the House of Representatives supporting Kosovo’s integration into NATO.