Secure Future Series No. 2- Lessons from Kosovo’s Failed Attempts to Join Interpol

On 4 November 2024, Serbian Internal Affairs Minister Ivica Dačić declared victory after the 92nd General Assembly of Interpol concluded without a vote on admitting Kosovo. Kosovo’s last application to join — its sixth — came (and was subsequently withdrawn) in 2019, having thrice failed by ballot (2015, 2016, 2018), once prior withdrawn its candidacy facing a clear defeat (2017), and once submitting its application to the General Secretariat, only for it to be denied a vote (2010). There seems to be no simple or straightforward way for Kosovo to lock up the votes needed to join Interpol. Instead, Kosovo must contend with several difficult realities.