Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has Americans thinking about foreign affairs in a way that they probably have not done in a long time.

Among other things, the war has made it clear once again that peaceful bonds of friendship need to be forged between countries, and the United States is no exception.

Iowa and Fort Dodge are already doing this, creating a new but steadily strengthening relationship with Kosovo and Gjakova, one of the cities in that relatively young Balkan nation. These relationships began in the early 2000s during the civil war in which Kosovo separated from Serbia. Iowa Army National Guard soldiers were sent there as peacekeepers. More than 800 Iowa troops went to Kosovo during deployments in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007 and 2008. In 2011, the Iowa National Guard became a formal partner with the Kosovo Security Forces.

Maj. Gen. Timothy Orr, who was then the adjutant general of the Iowa National Guard, sought to expand the relationship beyond purely military matters. In 2013, Kosovo and Iowa became Sister States. Then in 2016, Fort Dodge and Gjakova became Sister Cities.

Since that time, high school students from Fort Dodge and Gjakova have visited each other’s countries on an annual basis, except during the COVID-19 pandemic. They have worked on service projects in each community.

This summer, those trips will resume.

To help make it possible for the Fort Dodge youth delegation to afford the journey, a fundraising event will be held Saturday. Called Spring Into Kosovo, it will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the City Square. It will feature about 20 vendors, a fun zone, live music and a silent auction.

Meanwhile, Shiny Top Brewing, 520 Central Ave., will host bingo and Eagles Landing, 1018 First Ave. N., will conduct a bags tournament.

As a prelude, a mini golf competition Friday evening at River Hops Brewing, 1014 Central Ave., will also raise money for the trip.

Giving teenagers exposure to another country and its culture is a positive step that will foster understanding far into the future. Thus, we believe the upcoming Kosovo trip is worthy of support, and encourage people to participate in the fundraisers.