Secure Future Series No. 3- Dealing with Hybrid Threats in Kosovo and Potential for Improvement

Hybrid threats are not abstract risks for Kosovo; they are becoming a growing reality. What makes Kosovo particularly vulnerable is the combination of its dispute with Serbia, fragile interethnic relations, and the country’s ambition to consolidate its statehood and sovereignty, as well as its Euro-Atlantic integration aspirations. This mix makes it a testing ground for hostile actors seeking to undermine NATO and EU credibility, such as Russia and China. The challenge, then, is not only defensive. Kosovo has not ignored these challenges. In recent years, it has adopted the National Cyber Security Strategy 2023–2027, passed the Law on Cyber Security, and begun operationalizing the Cyber Security Agency and related coordination bodies. These steps align Kosovo with Euro-Atlantic standards and provide an institutional framework to address threats. Yet, progress remains uneven. Kosovo can demonstrate that small states are capable of building resilience by incorporating foresight and fostering alliances, as well as promoting societal cohesion within their national security doctrine. Responding to hybrid threats in Kosovo requires building on existing capacities and leveraging partnerships. The following six areas represent feasible yet impactful steps that Kosovo can take to strengthen its resilience against hybrid threats.

Denora Gashi is a junior non-resident research fellow at the Kosovar Centre for Security Studies (KCSS), and is currently pursuing postgraduate conflict studies at the London School of Economics (LSE).