Clewlow: Kosovo far from NATO membership; KSF presence in the north would be a provocation

Former British officer Ade Clewlow says that Kosovo is far from NATO membership and that the presence of the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) in the north would be perceived as a provocation.

He rules out the possibility of a direct conflict as long as KFOR troops remain in Kosovo.

In an interview with Kosova Press, Clewlow emphasized that Kosovo is still far from joining NATO and that the deployment of KSF forces in the north could be seen as a provocation.

The former British officer pointed out that KFOR is undoubtedly smaller than it was when it first arrived in Kosovo in 2008, but stressed that it still plays an extremely important role in deterring any external aggressor who might seek to alter the political situation in Kosovo.

"Although KFOR's mission remains the same—to guarantee freedom of movement and a secure environment—its presence is crucial. In reality, KFOR has both the military and political power to prevent any aggression against Kosovo," he stated.

According to the former British military official, the deployment of the Kosovo Security Force in the north could be perceived as a provocation.

"Although the north is part of Kosovo and, in theory, KSF has the right to be deployed there, the reality on the ground is that people would see it as a provocation. This could lead to retaliation by a small group of ethnic Serbs who take orders from Belgrade and aim to destabilize relations between ethnic Serbs and the rest of Kosovo," Clewlow said.

The former British officer also noted that new geopolitical circumstances must not be ignored, mentioning Donald Trump, who took office as president this year.

"If Trump applies the same strategy in the Western Balkans as in Ukraine, then stability in the region will become Europe's responsibility. European countries will have to engage more to guarantee a secure environment here," he observed.

He also expressed skepticism about Kosovo's prospects for NATO membership.

"Kosovo has always wanted to be a contributor to security rather than a consumer of it. I would love to say that Kosovo will soon join NATO, but the future of NATO as an organization is in question, especially regarding the role of the United States. Unfortunately, I do not believe that Kosovo will become a NATO member anytime soon. However, the closer it gets to its European allies, the greater the chances for a more stable future," Clewlow concluded.