Over the last decade and a half, Germany‘s role in Kosovo has transformed from one to create peace‖ into a state-building role intended to ensure democratization and development. In addition to the United States, Germany‘s efforts in Kosovo have been crucial for bringing a timely end to the crisis in Kosovo, for Kosovo‘s pre-independence capacity building, and for Kosovo‘s post-independence state-building. Germany‘s bilateral relations with Kosovo remain strong in regards to Germany‘s contribution to security and rule of law structures in Kosovo, aid and development cooperation, political support vis-à-vis status recognition and relations with Serbia and the EU, and role within international organizations, particularly KFOR, EULEX, and the EU, which aim to bring security, rule of law and development to Kosovo and ready Kosovo for European integration. Germany‘s role in Kosovo, in addition to shaping its strategic importance within NATO and the EU, has spotlighted Germany as a leading figure in Kosovo and in the western Balkans.