Kosovo is preparing for an unprecedented involvement in an international peacekeeping initiative tied to the Gaza conflict, a move that underscores the Balkan nation’s aspiration to play a wider role in global security efforts.
Officials in Pristina have confirmed that the Forca e Sigurisë së Kosovës (FSK) — the Kosovo Security Force — is poised to take part in the International Stabilization Force for Gaza, a multinational peacekeeping effort envisioned under U.S. diplomatic plans to secure and rebuild the war-torn Palestinian territory.
From Doha to the Field: Kosovo’s Path to Participation
Although details about the exact composition, mandate and deployment timeline of the Gaza stabilization mission remain limited, Kosovo’s government has already taken concrete steps toward engagement.
In December 2025, representatives of Kosovo participated in a preparatory conference in Doha, Qatar, hosted by the United States Central Command, where the structure and operational contours of the International Stabilization Force were discussed. FSK commanders attended the meeting at the invitation of U.S. military officials, signaling early involvement in planning discussions.
Acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti has publicly framed the initiative as both a contribution to global peace and a continuation of Kosovo’s own experience with international intervention. “We want to contribute wherever peace is needed in the world, because we ourselves have been beneficiaries of peace through international forces,” Kurti said, referencing Kosovo’s post-war stabilization experience following NATO intervention in the late 1990s.
Link to U.S. Peace Plan for Gaza
The Gaza stabilization force is rooted in a 20-point peace plan promoted by U.S. leadership, which has sought to bring together a broad coalition of states and organizations to support the fragile ceasefire and long-term reconstruction in Gaza. The initiative has generated significant international attention and debate, including United Nations Security Council involvement and parallel frameworks such as the U.S.-led “Board of Peace” for governance and reconstruction.
The force is expected to operate with a United Nations mandate, focusing on maintaining security, overseeing the ceasefire, and providing stability in areas devastated by prolonged conflict. While precise operational details — such as troop numbers, specific roles, and geographic zones of deployment — have not been publicly disclosed, leadership has been designated to American military officials.
Kosovo’s Military Evolution and Peacekeeping Role
Kosovo’s security forces have gradually expanded their international footprint over recent years. Traditionally focused on domestic security, the FSK has increasingly participated in humanitarian assistance, search-and-rescue missions, and overseas operations, including a deployment to Kuwait in 2021 and collaborative exercises with British and American units.
The decision to join the Gaza stabilization mission comes amid broader reforms enabling the Kosovo Assembly to streamline FSK participation in international peace operations, aligning the force with Western security standards and cementing ties with NATO and allied partners.
Challenges and Regional Context
While Kosovo’s entry into the stabilization mission marks a symbolic milestone, several challenges lie ahead. The Gaza stabilization initiative itself has faced international scrutiny and negotiation, with questions about its composition, authority, and long-term viability in a politically and militarily complex environment. Critics highlight uncertainties in how the multi-national force will interface with existing actors on the ground and the role of the United Nations versus ad hoc coalitions.
At home, the move underscores Kosovo’s continued ambition to be recognized as a contributor to global security, even as its own status remains contested by some neighboring countries. The FSK’s involvement in Gaza could serve both as a practical test of Kosovo’s growing capabilities and a diplomatic statement of its willingness to join international peace efforts beyond the Balkans.