Austria will provide fewer troops for the NATO-led KFOR operation in Kosovo in the future. A Ministry of Defense spokesperson today confirmed to APA the corresponding German media reports. In the future, around 120 fewer Austrian soldiers will be stationed in Kosovo.
The ministry emphasized that this had nothing to do with the current situation in Kosovo. The change was decided a long time ago. The background is that Austria is providing 500 soldiers for the EU Battle Group 2025. Their training will begin next year.
According to the ministry, another company will remain in reserve for the KFOR operation in Kosovo after the planned withdrawal of soldiers in April 2024. Overall, more Austrian soldiers will be available for foreign missions in the future than before.
SPÖ criticizes
The SPÖ criticized the withdrawal as a “fatal sign”. “Neutral Austria must stand out through its greater commitment to peacekeeping missions, and not through weakening,” demanded SPÖ defense spokesman Robert Laimer. “Especially when trouble spots emerge around the world due to Russian aggression. The federal government repeatedly highlights the importance of the Western Balkans for Austria, but is not prepared to make its contribution to this essential peacekeeping mission.”
There are currently around 3,400 KFOR forces stationed in Kosovo. Tensions between Serbia and Kosovo have increased since September 24, when 30 armed Serbs attacked a Kosovo police station in the north of the country.