Italy opposes KFOR reduction in Kosovo: Mission necessary for Balkan stability

NATO has announced it will lower the number of troops in its peacekeeping mission in Kosovo, which consists of about 4,600 soldiers, following the improved security situation. The current “conditions offer the possibility to further optimise the size and presence of KFOR”, American General Alexandrus Grenkewich, the supreme commander of NATO's Allied forces in Europe, has explained.

Before that announcement, European diplomats had signalled the United States' desire to reduce their forces in KFOR. The KFOR peacekeeping mission, authorised by the UN and established in 1999 after the wars in the former Yugoslavia (United Nations Security Council 1244), currently has about 4,500 soldiers, out of whom some 760 are Americans, reports Ilsole24.

It is the second largest force behind Italy, which currently plays an important role both in the number (852 soldiers, 137 land vehicles and 1 air vehicles, as well as in command responsibilities. The National Forces Operational Command is held by the Chief of General Defence Staff, which is based on Joint Force Operational Command (COVI).

Italy has led KFOR many times

Operation KFOR, dubbed “joint Enterprise”, began at the dawn of June 12, 1999. Italy has taken over 14 times from 1999 to today. The goal is to create a safe and stable environment, as well as support from Kosovo institutions to achieve stability in the region.

Italy has continued to secure a reserve force on alert (the NATO Operational Reaction Forces Battalion for the Balkan Zone, in co-operation with the Italy-based KFOR mission about 700 units), ready for emergency intervention.

“Continues to be necessary for the stability and credibility of the Alliance in the Balkans”, General Luciano Portolano has recently stressed. “We are on the front line for security and stability in the Balkan region, in the NATO mission KFOR and in EU missions”, Foreign Minister Antonio Tayan has recalled.

There are still no details of the bodies to withdraw

The Atlantic Alliance has not provided details of which troops will be withdrawn. Balanced reductions will follow national rotation cycles and troop withdrawal by next year. Optimization will take place gradually and under conditions on the ground, and it can be restored if the security situation requires”, General Grinkewich explained.

2023 tension and mission reinforcement

After increasing tensions and violence in 2023, including attacks on KFOR peacekeepers in Zvecan, the mission received the largest reinforcement in more than a decade, with the deployment of nearly 1,000 additional soldiers.

“NATO and KFOR are fully committed to security in Kosovo”, the Grinkewich has reiterated. He has also stressed the Alliance's strong commitment to the Western Balkans, a region of strategic importance whose security is directly linked to Euro-Atlantic security.

He added that NATO would not allow the creation of a security vacuum. Optimisation, proclaimed in the 27th year of the mission, is being implemented within the existing SACUR authorisations and following a detailed analysis of the security situation based on intelligence.

Western Balkans, Strategic Interest Zone for Italy

In general, the Western Balkans have an important role for Italy. The Melon government is pushing for the integration of these countries into the EU. Kosovo has submitted membership application in December 2022.

Kosovo's future integration into the European Union, as well as Serbia's, remains closely linked to the implementation of the Brussels-attensive Kosovo dialogue, which should lead to a comprehensive and legally binding agreement for normalising their relations.