The United Kingdom has reaffirmed its support for the NATO mission in Kosovo, KFOR, for at least another three years. The news was confirmed by the British Armed Forces, which confirmed its commitment to peace and stability in the region. Since 1999, when NATO peacekeepers entered Kosovo, Britain has been among the main contributors to the mission. According to the British government, the country has a standby force of hundreds of troops that can be deployed at any time if the situation calls for it.
The most recent deployment took place in 2023, after the armed attack on the Kosovo Police in the north. London says the extension of the mission until December 2028 is part of the “NATO First” strategy adopted in the latest defense review. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that “our commitment to peace in the Balkans is unwavering and cooperation with our partners is essential for regional and national security”.
Meanwhile, the British minister for the Armed Forces, Alistair Carns, said that British soldiers have carried out hundreds of missions within KFOR and will continue to do so for the security of Kosovo and the region. Currently, KFOR has over 4,600 troops from 33 different countries and is the third security force in the country, after the Kosovo Police and EULEX. The NATO mission is also responsible for security on the border between Kosovo and Serbia. KFOR’s presence increased significantly during 2023, when tensions in the Serb-majority north escalated.
