In Kosovo, there are two armies - KFOR and KSF; everyone has forgotten the UN Resolution 1244

According to United Nations Resolution 1244, KFOR should be the only armed force in Kosovo, but the reality on the ground is different. The Kosovo Security Forces may not be an "army" on paper, but in terms of equipment, personnel, and investments since Albin Kurti came to power in Pristina, they are.

They possess unmanned aerial vehicles, mortars, and armored vehicles, conduct joint exercises with other armed forces, participate in missions in Kuwait and the Falklands, and train personnel in academies in Turkey, Germany, Great Britain, and the USA.

The only thing left is deploying KSF in northern Kosovo, for which they still need the approval of the KFOR commander.

Military analyst Vlada Radulovic says for Kosovo Online that regarding the arming process of the Kosovo Security Forces and what Pristina aims to establish de facto and de jure, it is essentially the army of Kosovo.

"They have been in this process for several years, from the end of 2018. In line with that, conditionally speaking, there were three phases as proclaimed in Pristina, and it was to be expected that some concrete procurements and progress would be made in this period after 2022. From that perspective, they are just working on what they had previously planned," Radulovic says and continues.

"They have assistance from abroad, without which they couldn't realize this, and despite always pointing the finger at the USA, I would say that it's not the most accurate approach. It seems to me, and I have reasons to believe this, that Turkey provides much more assistance, followed by Great Britain, and I wouldn't exclude Germany either".

Radulovic believes that Turkey leads in "assisting KS", particularly in terms of armored vehicles, light tactical vehicles, and even some weapons, and systems like 120mm mortars.

"Pristina couldn't have its own armed forces according to any document or agreement, but we can see that they have made significant progress in that regard. Fundamentally, nothing will change because you can't compare anything that Pristina had with the Serbian Army; they are far from being comparable. However, does the arming of the Kosovo Security Forces change the situation on the ground? It does change it because it's not the same when you have certain security forces, unlike the earlier Kosovo Protection Corps or whatever they were called, and now you have mortars, anti-tank weapons, and potentially even lightweight portable air defense systems for actions against low-flying aircraft or helicopters, for example. This is already changing things on the ground, but it's not a fundamental fear that should worry someone in Belgrade".

On the other hand, security expert Nuredin Ibishi believes there is no reason to be alarmed, emphasizing that the KSF does not have offensive but defensive capabilities.

Ibishi points out that the KSF is in a transitional phase, and investments are a normal thing.

"An increase is needed in both personnel numbers, as foreseen by the transition process, as well as equipment and weaponry. Therefore, it's necessary to increase the percentage of budgetary allocations, as the Prime Minister mentioned, and this doesn't only pertain to armament but also equipment, and infrastructure, as well as provisions for recruitment, education, equipment, and other logistical needs for personnel, where the number has simply risen in accordance with the Government's decision and the adoption of the 10-year transition plan," Ibishi said for Kosovo Online.

He emphasizes that the region should not be in a panic about this, pointing out that KFOR is responsible for security in Kosovo. He also doesn't believe that the KSF will acquire heavier weaponry.

"The Kosovo Security Forces do not have prerogatives for offensive actions, but rather for defensive actions in the event of a hypothetical attack. Therefore, all these means do not involve howitzers, offensive aviation, or other missile systems; they rely on defensive actions," Ibishi points out.

The Kosovo Parliament, on December 14, 2018, with 106 votes in favor and one abstention, adopted three laws changing the mandate of the Kosovo Security Forces into the Kosovo Army, and Ibishi emphasizes that the KSF is already an army.