06/05/2023 20:32 (act. 06/05/2023 20:32)
After attacks on the NATO-led peacekeeping mission (KFOR) by Serb protesters, the first soldiers arrived in Kosovo on Monday to reinforce international troops. The bulk of the reinforcement consists of around 500 Turkish troops who will be “deployed to Kosovo for as long as necessary”, according to NATO. Another multinational battalion is ready to deploy if needed.
During protests in the town of Zvecan in northern Kosovo a week ago, KFOR soldiers were attacked as they opposed Serb demonstrators who wanted to storm the town hall. 30 of the soldiers were wounded. The US and EU strongly condemned the violence, and in response NATO announced that KFOR would be strengthened. 52 protesters were also injured.
Kosovo, a country of 1.8 million people with a mostly ethnic Albanian population, declared its independence from Serbia in 2008, but Belgrade still considers it a Serbian province to this day. About 120,000 Serbs live in Kosovo, mostly in the north. Other countries, including Serbia’s allies China and Russia, also do not recognize Kosovo’s independence.
The NATO-led KFOR mission has provided security in Kosovo since the end of the Kosovo war in 1999. It comprises some 3,800 emergency services from 27 countries. Germany is currently supplying around 70 troops, the Bundestag mandate provides for up to 400 troops. After last week’s incidents, NATO announced that it would send an additional 700 troops.