Kosovo MPs supported a bill to ratify the country’s membership of President Donald Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’, with lawmakers saying it helps the Balkan state get closer to the US.
Perparim Isufi
US President Donald Trump (L) sits next to Kosovo’s President Vjosa Osmani (R) during a signing ceremony of the ‘Board of Peace’ charter during the 56th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF), in Davos, Switzerland, 22 January 2026. Photo: EPA/GIAN EHRENZELLER
Kosovo MPs ratified a bill on Friday approving the country’s membership of US President Donald Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ initiative – a vote that showed a rare unanimity among the country’s political parties.
A total of 103 MPs voted in favour of membership, with no votes against or abstentions.
Kosovo is the second country in the Balkan region to ratify membership after Albania did the same on January 22. Turkey and Bulgaria were among the countries signing the charter, although the Bulgarian prime minister has raised doubts about whether the commitment was actually invalid.
Arbreshe Hyseni Kryeziu, a ruling Vetevendosje party MP and head of the parliamentary committee on foreign affairs, said the committee believes the Board of Peace will promote stability and guarantee “sustainable peace in conflict-affected and threatened zones”.
“[The committee] also assessed that Kosovo’s membership to this organisation would extend the network of international organisations Kosovo is adhered to,” Hyseni Kryeziu added.
Elmi Recica, an MP from the opposition Democratic Party of Kosovo, PDK, said membership of the Board is “very important” for Kosovo because it “strengthens national security and Euro-Atlantic orientation, and consolidates Kosovo’s alliance with the US”.
“There is no obligation to participate in missions without consent, no automatic financial obligation and each financial, military or civil contribution [should be] decided separately,” Recica added.
Trump originally proposed the creation of the Board as part of his plan to end the war in Gaza last September, but has since expanded the initiative to cover various other conflicts around the globe. Trump will be chairman of the board for life, even after leaving office, and the price of permanent membership is $1 billion.
Ratification of Kosovo’s membership comes one week after parliament voted for a government proposal to send troops if requested as part of a proposed stabilisation force in Gaza as part of Kosovo’s participation to the initiative.
Vjosa Osmani, who recently stepped down as Kosovo’s president and who signed the Board of Peace Charter on behalf of Kosovo in January, welcomed Friday’s ratification.
“This is a giant step which places Kosovo where it deserves to be: alongside America and among states which contribute to global peace,” Osmani said on Facebook.
Bulgaria and Hungary are currently the only EU states that have signed up to the Board of Peace, although various countries including Croatia, Greece and Romania attended the inaugural meeting as observers.
