In an exclusive interview with Telegrafi, NATO Deputy Secretary General Radmila Shekerinska spoke about the main messages that emerged from the meeting of Defense Ministers in Brussels, the increase in defense investments after the Hague Summit, support for Ukraine, and NATO's role in the Western Balkans.
She emphasized that the Alliance's focus remains the implementation of strategic decisions, strengthening defense capacities and unity among allies, while for Kosovo she underlined the importance of KFOR, the need for accountability from Serbia for the 2023 events in Banjska and the necessity of political dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade as the only path towards long-term stability in the region.
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Telegraph: NATO Deputy Secretary General, thank you for your time. The NATO Defense Ministers' meeting was held in Brussels. What was the main message and discussion at the meeting?
Shekerinska: As the Secretary-General said last year, when we concluded the Hague Summit, which was a truly historic success, he said that every meeting will not come up with new goals. We will focus only on how to implement the Hague decisions. And that was very much the focus of the Defense Ministers today, how to make our defense and deterrence stronger, how to make our support for Ukraine stronger. On both of those issues, we saw at the ministerial meeting, but also after it, that there is a very strong movement from the European allies and Canada to increase defense investments, to continue to support Ukraine not only politically but also with military equipment and financially. This sends a very strong message of unity and strength.
The commitment from the Hague Summit to 5% of GDP in defence investment is very important. What we have seen is that some allies, such as Poland, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Denmark and Norway, are either very close to this target or have achieved it 10 years ahead of the deadline we agreed at The Hague. Germany has doubled its defence investment. Several countries have shown very strong growth for the coming years. This does not just mean money in the budgets. It means stronger capabilities, stronger armies and much stronger deterrence and defence for the whole alliance.
Of course, we discussed the situation in Ukraine. Last year, our focus was very much on supporting military equipment, especially air defense. We continue to say that Ukraine's security is intertwined with our own security. This is also a way to support our deterrence and defense. Last year, we provided the bulk of the air defense that kept Ukraine's cities and energy infrastructure protected from indiscriminate Russian attacks. This is very important to us and was the core of the discussions today.
Telegraph: When you mentioned the budget, Ukraine, the alliance, security and stability – how important was the meeting for the Balkans, especially for Kosovo and stability in the region?
Shekerinska: Several ministers raised the issue of the Western Balkans. They practically reiterated what is part of our policy, that the Western Balkans remains a region of strategic importance for the alliance. We are there not only with KFOR, but we also have additional teams. KFOR is our longest-running and largest mission, and this speaks very strongly to our commitment to peace and security in the region.
Telegraph: Recently we have a new government in Kosovo after elections and a new parliament. What does this mean for NATO? It has also been stated by the NATO Chief that there must be accountability for the attack in Banjska. How do you see the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue in the future and the support mediated by the EU, but also with support from NATO?
Shekerinska: KFOR is there, as part of our obligations for peace and security in the region. It has always been seen as a mission that creates sufficient conditions to support the EU-led political dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina. It is very important, perhaps this is an area, the Western Balkans as a whole, where NATO and the EU really have a strategic partnership. We offer KFOR and the support it provides, as a secure environment so that the political dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina can move forward more quickly.
We have ongoing consultations with the EU Special Representative, Sorensen. I think he will join us again in one of the NAC sessions to discuss these issues. But at the end of the day, it is a political dialogue that will only be successful if there is political will in Pristina and Belgrade. We strongly urge the authorities to engage in this dialogue with a sense of responsibility and compromise, to move forward.
I must also say that we will continue to call on the authorities to be accountable when it comes to the events of 2023 in Banjska and we will not change our positions in this regard. We believe that accountability is always necessary to prevent such things from happening and to avoid similar crises. We welcome the election of a new government in Pristina and hope that this will be an impetus for political dialogue, which is perhaps the only way to see more stability and prosperity in the region.
Radmila Shekerinska from NATO and the editor-in-chief of Telegraf, Muhamet HajrullahuPhoto: NATO
Telegraph: Thank you. My last question, we mentioned the role of KFOR which remains essential for security and peace in the region. How do you see the future mission of KFOR in Kosovo?
Shekerinska: We will have discussions. As with any mission, we assess and review future needs. This will depend a lot on how the EU-led dialogue goes, what the assessments of the Special Representative are, what the assessments of our personnel on the ground are, what the assessments of our military authorities are and, of course, what the views of the allies are.
This is an ongoing process. But it is political dialogue that paves the way to peace and security. Our military presence can only be a help and encouragement; it cannot solve the problem.
We continuously call on the authorities, both in Pristina and Belgrade, to engage seriously, with full commitment and with the understanding that compromises are sometimes difficult, but always necessary.
Radmila Shekerinska Photo: NATO
Telegraph: But there is hope.
Shekerinska: That's what I mean. We've all had our problems in the region, haven't we? We've all had to participate in the solution. It's always difficult. There's always criticism. There's always blame. But there's also a historic role that can be played in helping countries and the region move forward, especially when the global situation is more difficult and unpredictable.
Telegraph: Deputy Secretary General, thank you for your time.
Shekerinska: Thank you.
Telegraph: Thank you very much.
Last week, a meeting of the alliance's defense ministers was held at NATO headquarters, and Telegrafi covered it from the scene./Telegraph/.
