24 minutes agoSwitzerland won't lower number of soldiers in Kosovo
Periskopi(3 hours ago)
(3 hours ago)Given the stable security situation, NATO plans to gradually reduce its number of troops over the next year, the Supreme Allied Powers Staff in Europe announced on Friday (SHAPE).
Since Switzerland is not contributing infantry to the mission, the announcement has no impact on Swisscoy operations, Swiss Defence Ministry said of the <x0Keystone- SDA”, report “Swissinfo”.
The Swiss contingent continues to carry out critical tasks for the mission, for example in monitoring the situation, transportation or KFOR headquarters. The maximum Swiss force is currently 215 military personnel.
After violent incidents in 2023, KFOR was strengthened with NATO reserve forces. Since then, the security situation has stabilised, but remains unstable, according to the Swiss ministry.
Currently, about 4,600 soldiers are deployed to NATO-led KFOR. The US, which has about 600 soldiers in Kosovo, had earlier signalled its intention to reduce participation in KFOR. A total of 31 countries participate in the mission.
Since 1999, the Swiss Armed Forces have conducted in Kosovo their largest deployment abroad to date.
