As tensions escalate between Kosovo and neighboring Serbia, NATO has announced an increase in its peacekeeping presence in northern Kosovo. This move comes in response to recent events, including a military buildup by Serbia on the Kosovo border. The U.S. has called on Serbia to withdraw its forces from the border area.
Tensions Soar Following Border Incident
The escalation in tensions follows a border incident where approximately 30 heavily armed Serbs stormed the northern Kosovo village of Banjska last Sunday. The clash resulted in the death of a Kosovo policeman and three attackers.
Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti expressed concerns over Serbia’s military buildup, stating, “We need NATO because the border with Serbia is very long, and the Serbian army has been recently strengthening its capacities. They have a lot of military equipment from both the Russian Federation and China.”
Kurti emphasized that some individuals are attempting to reverse progress, stating, “These people want to turn back time. They are in search of a time machine. They want to turn the clock back by 30 years. But that is not going to happen.”
U.S. and U.K. Express Concerns
The U.S. White House National Security Council spokesperson, John Kirby, confirmed the presence of a “large military deployment” of Serbian tanks and artillery on the border, calling it a “very destabilizing development.” The U.S. has called on Serbia to withdraw these forces.
The U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan discussed the situation with Kosovo Prime Minister Kurti and emphasized the U.S.’s readiness to work with allies to ensure the NATO Kosovo Force (KFOR) remained adequately resourced.
The U.K. also announced its decision to send troops to support NATO’s peacekeepers in Kosovo.
Resignation of Kosovo-Serb Political Leader
Milan Radoicic, the vice president of Serb List, the main Kosovo-Serb political party, resigned after admitting to setting up the armed group responsible for the attack.
Sophistication of the Attack Raises Concerns
The U.S. ambassador to Kosovo, Jeffrey M. Hovenier, characterized the weekend attack as coordinated and sophisticated. He noted that the quantity of weapons used suggested a serious plan to destabilize the region. The EU and the U.S. have long sought to broker peace between Kosovo and Serbia, but challenges persist, particularly concerning the status of northern Kosovo, where the majority of the population is Serbian.
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