NATO: We continue to support the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, we are fully committed to security in Kosovo

NATO continues to support the EU-facilitated dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina and calls on both sides to engage in resolving outstanding issues and reach a solution that respects the rights of all communities, as this is key for lasting security in Kosovo and stability in the region, NATO said in a statement marking the 27th anniversary of the Alliance's deployment to Kosovo.

The statement notes that the security situation in Kosovo has continued to improve in recent years.

“Accordingly, in January, NATO ceased the deployment of reserve forces within the KFOR mission after more than two years of continuous rotations. As the security situation in Kosovo remains generally steady, NATO will optimize KFOR's posture in Kosovo and gradually adjust its current strength over the next year,” the statement said.

It recalls that since 1999, KFOR's posture has been continuously adjusted so that the mission remains fit for purpose and responsive to changes in the security environment.

“Following increased tensions and violence in 2023, including the unjustified attacks against KFOR peacekeepers in Zvecan, KFOR saw its largest reinforcement in over a decade, with the deployment of nearly 1,000 additional troops,” the statement added.

It also emphasizes that, given the current stability of the security situation, KFOR's posture can be adjusted accordingly while continuing to effectively maintain a safe and secure environment for all people and communities living in Kosovo, as well as freedom of movement, at all times and impartially, in line with its long-standing United Nations mandate, based on UN Security Council Resolution 1244 of 1999, and in close coordination with the Kosovo Police and the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX) in their respective roles as security responders.

“NATO and KFOR remain fully committed to safety and security in Kosovo. It is precisely this commitment that has led to increased stability, as Kosovo's security organizations have become more capable. Current conditions provide an opportunity to optimize KFOR's size and posture further,” Supreme Allied Commander Europe, US Air Force General Alexus Grynkewich, recently said, the statement recalls.

General Grynkewich also reiterated NATO's strong commitment to the Western Balkans, a region of strategic importance for the Alliance, whose security is directly linked to the security of the Euro-Atlantic area, adding that NATO will not allow a security vacuum to emerge.

“The optimization announced on the occasion of the mission's 27th anniversary is being carried out within the existing authorities of the Supreme Allied Commander Europe and follows a thorough review and intelligence-based assessment of the security situation. Calibrated reductions are expected to follow national deployment and redeployment cycles between now and next year. The optimization will occur gradually and in line with conditions on the ground, and could be reversed, if warranted by relevant security developments,” the NATO statement added.