During her visit to Washington, President Vjosa Osmani met with U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, Louis Bono, to discuss strengthening the strategic partnership between Kosovo and the United States, with a focus on defense and economic cooperation.

Osmani reaffirmed Kosovo’s commitment to deepening bilateral ties and emphasized the importance of regional security, stressing the need for a strong preventive stance against threats from Russia, Serbia, and other malign actors. She underscored the necessity of close U.S.-Kosovo cooperation to ensure stability and peace in the region.

Highlighting Kosovo’s NATO integration as a key priority, Osmani noted that this step would enhance regional security and align with U.S. strategic objectives for global stability. She confirmed Kosovo’s defense budget increase to 2% of GDP, with further growth planned to meet NATO membership criteria.

Osmani also expressed Kosovo’s readiness for active engagement in the strategic dialogue launched earlier this year, aimed at addressing common challenges and advancing shared priorities.

Louis Bono was appointed Acting Assistant Secretary of State by the Trump administration on January 20, 2025.

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