On a chilly evening in London, the Kosovo Embassy opened its doors to a gathering of diplomats, scholars, journalists, and activists for a discussion on an issue as pressing as it is perennial: the security threats facing Kosovo. The event, featuring Dr. Aidan Hehir and Dr. Andi Hoxhaj OBE, renowned scholars of international relations, was not only an intellectual exercise but a reflection of Kosovo’s precarious place in an increasingly volatile world.

As attendees filled the embassy’s modest yet dignified venue, the air was charged with the gravity of the topic. For many, including myself, the occasion carried deep personal resonance. Born in Kosovo during the dark days of Serbian rule, I had fled persecution, returning only sporadically for reporting assignments. That evening marked my first visit to an embassy representing the independent Republic of Kosovo. It was a moment of pride, yet tinged with the alienation of a diaspora member who still feels like a foreigner in their own homeland.

The evening began with opening remarks from Kosovo’s ambassador to the United Kingdom, Ilir Kapiti. He introduced the speakers, emphasising their profound contributions to the study of Kosovo and the Western Balkans. Dr. Hoxhaj, an Albanian-British scholar, and Dr. Hehir, an expert on international justice and state-building, each brought a wealth of knowledge and a candid perspective to the discussion.

Dr. Hoxhaj set the stage by outlining the geopolitical complexities of the Western Balkans. “We are in a time,” he said, “where the next four years could be crucial for the dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo.” He pointed to the broader geopolitical chessboard, where new governments across Europe and the United States could either fortify or undermine Kosovo’s tenuous stability. His analysis was sobering, especially as he detailed how external powers such as China and Russia have exploited the region’s vulnerabilities. “China,” he explained, “has invested more per capita in the Western Balkans than in Germany over a shorter period,” while Russia leverages disinformation and political destabilization to thwart Western integration…