US pressure to reduce missions will troops in Kosovo be affected?

According to four NATO diplomats, the possibility of completing a key coalition mission in Iraq is being seen. NATO currently has an advisory mission in Iraq aimed at strengthening security institutions and preventing the return of the Islamic State.

The report says European allies are concerned about Washington's signals to reduce NATO's presence in Kosovo. The KFOR peacekeeping mission, authorised by the UN and deployed in 1999 after the wars in the former Yugoslavia, currently numbers about 4,500 troops.

The senior policy associate at the European Council for Foreign Relations, Engjellushe Morina, has said the mission remains necessary for regional security. “If NATO withdraws, this could encourage Serb separatists in northern Kosovo and have chain effect in the region, including Republika Srpska in Bosnia and Herzegovina”, it says.

“We're pretty worried.” for efforts to reduce the mission, a fifth senior diplomat said NATO, as “things in the Western Balkans can rapidly escalate”.

Contacted by “Politco” an official of NATO speaking on behalf of the organisation said “has no timetable related to the NATO Mission in Iraq... or to KFOR”, adding: “These missions are based on need, subject to periodic revision, and adapt to the evolution of circumstances.” For now, no decision has been made to conclude any of the operations.