Macedonia: Serbia's Armatta threat to region KSF ready for country protection

Republic of Kosovo Defence Minister Ejup Macedonia, concerning the deployment of many of Serbia's military units close to the border with Kosovo, says that “we are always ready, the Kosovo Security Force (FSK) has its units ready for any threat and danger presented at our site”.

In an interview given for “Anadolu”, Macedonia has spoken of recent tensions with Serbia, the process of converting KSF into the military, plans to join NATO, their military assistance to Ukraine and Kosovo-Turkey military relations.

Macedonia said that the deployment of many of Serbia's military units close to the Kosovo border poses danger, until it stressed that the Serbian military and gendarmerie have 48 operational bases near the border with Kosovo.

Adding this to the militarism of the army and Serbia in general, which is worth emphasising on acquiring different weapons systems from China, Russia, and even Iran, we see this as a constant threat to security in the Republic of Kosovo, but also in other countries around”, Macedonia noted.

According to the Kosovo minister, these developments are based on the Serbian government's hegemonist and aggressive policy towards Kosovo and other neighbours.

This thing is clearly said. We have had recent statements by President Vuciq that Serbia expects a favourable moment to take military action against Kosovo, but this gives us to know that we must develop our capacities and build our army not only to face this threat, but also to face other threats affecting our country's security and territory”, he stressed.

Military KSF transformation process, Kosovo membership in NATO

Minister Macedonia said they are in the second phase of realisation of the plan to transform KSF into the military, with focus on increasing infantry and combat capacity for the region, and that they will pass through the third and final phase in 2025 and in this context, focus on building artillery capacity, air defence, and military support capacities by 2028.

Stressing that the KSF currently has staffed around 40,000 members, Macedonia said among them are 55 Turkish members of Kosovo.

He said NATO membership is among the strategic goals of Kosovo's national security, added that they have established defence capacities in line with NATO doctrine and that all equipment and weapons systems have been bought according to NATO standards.

“The weapons files are run in NATO countries, we do not buy from any country that is not part of NATO. Basically focused on making purchases from countries with which we have closer partnerships, such as the US, Turkey, Germany and other countries”, the minister stressed, underlining that from 2021 to 2023, over 200m euros have been earmarked for the purchase of various weapons and equipment under the transformation of KSF into the military.

Kosovo to offer military assistance to Ukraine

Minister Macedonia said they are always ready to support Ukraine's “fair freedom struggle”.

He said the aid, which he calls modest, is very important for Ukraine in this difficult phase of their struggle for freedom.

The Kosovo government has decided to offer two support packages to Ukraine. The first package will be sent to Ukraine this week and consists of tactical trucks, tactical vehicles, and military autobules. The second package, consisting of mortar shells 120, 81 and 60millimeters, will also be sent to Ukraine” soon, Macedonia stressed.

We have “special relations” with Turkey in the military field

Macedonia said Turkish soldiers serving within KFOR since 1999 are very important to the country's security and stability.

He said Kosovo with Turkey has “special relations” in the military field, based on cultural and historical ties.

We constantly have units and individuals we train in the Republic of Turkey. We have many Turkish Army teams that in Kosovo hold different training for KSF units. We also have excellent reports in terms of the military industry, namely, more precisely military purchases. In this regard, to boost this co-operation, at the beginning of this year we signed a military framework agreement with the Republic of Turkey in Ankara along with Minister (Jasar) Gyler. All this support Turkey provides for our country's defence capacities is truly vital that our country, more precisely, our Ministry of Defence and KSF, have a high level of professionalism today and perhaps be among the most developed armies in the region in a comprehensive respect of”, he stressed.

Speaking of fears “Bayraktar TB”, which Kosovo bought from Turkey during the past year, Macedonia stressed that testing and training processes are continuing.

“The specific units that deal with the direction of TB Bayrakites develop different activities with them, and indeed we see them as the key assets of KSF”, the minister stressed.

Claiming that in the KSF inventory they have Turkish products as anti-x0>Omtas” and vehicles “Vuran “ ” with an integrated mortar weapons system of 120 millimeters, Macedonia also added that they would buy against-U.S. “Javelin”, which the process is still going on.

The KSF, which was founded in 2009 to provide crisis management operations in Kosovo and across the border to serve in civil protection operations in the country and in natural disasters and other emergencies, began its transformation process in the military with legal changes from 2018. The process is expected to last 10 years. /Anadolu

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