Tension in Kosovo: Germany’s chance for global leadership

Photo: Reuters

Argument by Elijah Kruger | March 20, 2024

Last month, the Kosovo national bank announced that the Serbian Dinar would no longer be legal tender on all commercial transactions, cementing the Euro as the singular currency in the country. This was one step in a slew of recent activities by the Kosovo government to assert their independence as a country.  

Tensions have been growing between Serbia and Kosovo in the recent years, with this move further fueling the fire. The two countries fought a horrific war in 1999, ultimately ending due to a NATO-led intervention. Since the intervention, NATO has had a peacekeeping mission (KFOR) stationed in Kosovo to keep the tensions between ethnic Serbs and ethnic Albanians at bay.  

Despite the presence of peacekeeping troops in the country, US and EU support of Kosovo has continued to wane over the past few years. Last year, the EU put into place a blockade of EU financial support and stopped the Kosovar Prime Minister, Albin Kurti from participating in high level events. 

Kosovo has been dealing with a double standard in its quest towards independence. When Kosovo attempted to enforce the use of Kosovo license plates instead of Serbian plates, it was met by sanctions and international condemnation by Western allies. The United States and most of Europe recognized Kosovo’s claim to independence in 2008.  However, as Kosovo has been carrying out standard normal functions of a sovereign country, it has been met with nothing but condemnation. 

Enter Germany. 

Germany, once viewed as a leader in both the European Union (EU) and in the NATO alliance has seen its power falter, both economically and militarily. On the economic front, Germany was the only major world economy to post negative growth in 2023. Coupled with large scale skilled labor shortages, Germany is being faced with domestic challenges, that both the global community and Germans themselves are not used to seeing.  

Militarily, Chancellor Olaf Scholz has continued to be the leader of an undefined, often flip-floppy foreign policy agenda. On one hand, Scholz has attempted to strengthen Germany’s defense commitments and posturing. Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Germany pledged to increase military spending equivalent to 2 per cent of gross domestic product, reversing a near eight decade long pacifist defense policy. Scholz has also continued to publicly pressure the United States to implement a new Ukraine funding bill.  

On the other hand, Scholz has held up numerous EU Ukraine aid bills (most recently a proposed $5 billion dollar aid package) and failed to take a firm stance on the Israel-Hamas conflict, even in light of the recent ICJ genocide case.  

Germany bolstering its military, economic, and diplomatic support to Kosovo is a chance to both appease the United States’ and NATO allies’ desire for a strong German military presence, while still walking the line of morality and pacifism that draws domestic support. Germany coming to Kosovo’s side would send a message that Germany is back. Back to support democracy, back to reassure its security and economic partners, and back to being an arbiter of peace.  

Kosovo has been taking steps that any independent, sovereign government would take, yet has continued to be met with opposition by the EU and the United States. Last year, Kosovo installed ethnic Albanian mayors in northern regions of the country. This only happened because ethnic Serbs boycotted the elections. In July of 2022, Kosovo demanded that all citizens of Kosovo start carrying IDs and using license plates issued by Kosovo.  

Both actions taken by Prime Minister Kurti’s government were opposed by ethnic Serbs who launched large scale attacks on Kosovo police forces and NATO’s peacekeepers. Instead of coming to the defense of Kosovo simply exercising its independence, the West decided to condemn and impose sanctions, coming to the defense of the aggressor. 

Serbia has also been angling to join the European Union since 2012. Subsequently Kosovo applied for EU membership in 2022. However, the EU has blocked membership for both countries until relations can be normalized and Serbia recognizes Kosovo as an independent Nation. As a result, Serbia has prioritized its aspirations to reclaim Kosovo as its own, continuing to push of EU membership. If a Kosovo entrance into the EU is contingent upon Serbia playing ball, it is illogical to let Serbia continue to play bully.  

Seeing as the United States and most other NATO nation states continue to take Serbia’s side, it is time for Germany to insert itself. First, Germany should continue to bolster its peacekeeping presence. Last week, Olaf Scholz doubled its commitment of peacekeepers. This peacekeeping mission is crucial in setting a precedent that Germany is not only committed to upholding Kosovo’s sovereignty but also setting a global example for the rest of NATO to not roll over to regional actors playing bully. 

Second, Germany should champion Kosovo for both NATO and EU membership. They have continued to be a strong pro-Western partner and NATO has already invested significant resources in their security. Admission to the EU would also force Serbia’s hand to seriously come to the negotiating table in normalizing relations with Kosovo. 

If Germany is serious about becoming a world leader again, and maintain peace in a historically unstable region, they should not only renew but increase their commitment to Kosovo.