Rajic: Kurti will try to provoke a conflict with forced recruitment of Serbs if he introduces mandatory military service

Geopolitical analyst Predrag Rajic says for Kosovo Online that he fears Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurti might attempt to provoke a conflict with Belgrade by forcing Serbs into conscription if he introduces mandatory military service.

"I am certain that Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija will face a series of different pressures in the coming period. It is certain that they do not recognize the unilaterally declared independence of Kosovo, just as it is certain that Kurti will do everything possible to provoke a conflict. I have no doubt that if the decision to introduce mandatory military service is made and if what is announced in Pristina is implemented, he will want to provoke a conflict with Serbs by trying to recruit them forcibly. They will refuse, and he would like to shift that onto a conflict with the authorities of the Republic of Serbia, all with the aim of actually involving Belgrade in a conflict with the NATO alliance. That has been his goal from the beginning, and he does not give up on it. We will need a lot of wisdom and unity in the coming period to avoid this trap," Rajic warned.

As he emphasized, the strengthening of the Kosovo Security Force raises significant concerns, not only concerning Serbia but also among countries in the region.

"Kurti has already shown that he has ambitions toward North Macedonia, so they should think twice about this situation in Skopje. He also has certain political ambitions in Albania and Montenegro. His actions are something that damages the interests of Podgorica, Tirana, Skopje, and certainly Belgrade. Kurti really positions himself as a disruptive factor in the region," Rajic pointed out.

Our interlocutor emphasized that the formation of the KSF in its current form was contrary to all regulations and provisions of international agreements signed by the sponsors of the so-called Kosovo independence.

"Even according to internal regulations in Kosovo and Metohija, which the Albanians in Pristina supposedly adhere to, they should not have forces that operate in this way. However, they, along with their patrons from the international community, have shown so far that they don't care much about regulations and that they apply them only when it suits them. The best example is the fact that Kurti's government has not yet implemented the decision of the Constitutional Court of so-called Kosovo regarding the return of land to the Decani Monastery. They even ignore the decisions of their own courts," Rajic said.

He emphasizes that Pristina will continue to insist that the KSF comes to the north of Kosovo primarily to provoke conflicts with the Serbian community. As he noted, he hopes that there will be enough wisdom in the international community to prevent this, especially considering that the KSF expressed the intention to acquire heavier weaponry, which poses a significant challenge to regional security.

"They have already started doing something in that field, receiving Bayraktar drones last year from Turkey, and they don't hide that they want to strengthen their military power. We are aware of all this and strive to draw the attention of that part of the international community that can influence Kurti to do something about it. It's very difficult, but to be able to do anything, we must preserve the unity of the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija," Rajic said.

When asked whether the United Kingdom has taken on the "leading role" in terms of military cooperation with Pristina, Rajic noted that it remained to be seen in the coming period.

"It is certain that Britain is far more active in the region than it used to be, especially since leaving the European Union. They want to position themselves a bit better within the Western bloc. Their goal is even to perhaps gain some positions from which they could later trade politically with Germany or the United States for other parts of the world where it is more interesting to them and where they could strengthen their position. It is not a secret that London has a considerable understanding of Pristina's ambitions in various spheres, including what we can characterize as military," Rajic concluded.