Overview
- Prime Minister Albin Kurti said Kosovo feels a political duty to help process people refused asylum in the UK, citing limited capacity and the need to resolve legal issues.
- Kurti indicated Kosovo would seek security cooperation, equipment and projects in return, and UK officials have not yet made a formal request to host a facility.
- British officials confirmed talks on potential return hubs but stressed the concept is only one option being explored to hold people awaiting deportation after losing appeals, distinct from offshore processing.
- Regional leaders are split, with Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina rejecting any role and Montenegro signaling interest only in exchange for major infrastructure investment.
- The push forms part of wider UK cooperation against smuggling routes that moved about 22,000 people through the Western Balkans last year, with Starmer flagging a joint migration taskforce and UK drones and scanners at key checkpoints.