Kosovo leaders discuss NATO KFOR optimisation with Admiral Wikoff

Admiral George M. Wikoff, commander of Allied Joint Force Command Naples, visited Kosovo in July 2026. He met with acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti, President Albulena Haxhiu, and KFOR Commander Major General Özkan Ulutaş, reviewing the security situation and KFOR’s conditions‑based force‑posture optimisation.

NATO reaffirmed its commitment to Kosovo’s safety, emphasizing that the optimisation is not a reduction but an adjustment based on a comprehensive assessment. KFOR currently fields about 4,600 troops from 31 nations, including significant contingents from Italy and the United States. The talks also highlighted Kosovo’s ongoing aspiration to join NATO, noting that four NATO members still do not recognise its independence.