“There should be no escalation”
Berlin: Serbia should reduce troops on the Kosovo border
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Tensions near the Serbian-Kosovan border have recently increased. The federal government is calling on Belgrade to de-escalate – and is calling for a reduction in troops on the Serbian side. NATO had already announced that it would increase its presence in Kosovo.
In view of the tensions on the Serbian border with Kosovo, the federal government has called on the government in Belgrade to de-escalate. “There must be no further escalation between Serbia and Kosovo. It is important that Serbia immediately reduce troops on the border,” wrote the Foreign Office on the X platform, the former Twitter. “Together with our partners, we are in intensive contact with all sides. The political process must urgently be continued,” it continued.
The reason is that tensions have flared up again in the north of Kosovo, which borders Serbia. Last weekend, 30 armed and masked men opened fire on Kosovar police officers in a village not far from the border with Serbia. According to police reports, a police officer and three attackers were killed in exchanges of fire.
USA reports troop deployment
The US government had previously asked Belgrade to withdraw its troops, which were apparently stationed on the border with Kosovo. “We are observing a large Serbian military presence along the border with Kosovo,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said on Friday. This includes “an unprecedented deployment of advanced Serbian artillery, tanks and mechanized infantry units.” Kirby described the development as “very destabilizing.”
The US called on Serbia to “withdraw these forces from the border.” The purpose of the Serbian rearmament is not yet clear, but it is worrying. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized the need for “immediate de-escalation and a return to dialogue” in a telephone conversation with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic.
However, a journalist from the AFP news agency reported on site that no particular troop movements or an increased presence of Serbian armed forces were observed in the southern Serbian town of Raska, near the border with Kosovo.
NATO wants to increase its presence
Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia in 2008. But Serbia does not recognize this. Since the latest incident, there have been reports of a Serbian troop concentration on the border with Kosovo. NATO therefore wants to increase its presence in the Western Balkan country. There are currently around 3,400 KFOR soldiers stationed in Kosovo, including around 70 Bundeswehr members.
On Friday, a spokesman for the Foreign Office had already called on Serbia to “unambiguously call for a renunciation of violence.” It is irritating to see how Serbian President Vucic “declares perpetrators victims.” Both Western Balkan countries are aiming to join the European Union.
