The United Kingdom Armed Forces reaffirmed their support for the NATO peacekeeping mission in Kosovo, KFOR, stressing that they will continue to support the mission for at least another three years.
The United Kingdom said it has been a major contributor to KFOR since NATO peacekeepers entered Kosovo in 1999 "to bring peace and stability after the conflict in the 1990s."
"The commitment is centred around a reserve force of hundreds of British soldiers, who can be deployed quickly to Kosovo to assist the mission, if required. The last major deployment of the United Kingdom to support the mission was in 2023, following the violent attack on the Police in northern Kosovo," the British Government said in a statement.
The government in London said that extending its support for KFOR until at least December 2028 is done to implement the executive's "NATO first" approach, as envisaged in the Strategic Defense Review, while enhancing security in the Western Balkans.
The announcement of Britain's continued support for KFOR was made before the start of the Berlin Process summit, which is being held in London this year.
"The UK's commitment to peace and security in the Western Balkans is unwavering. By extending our support for KFOR, we are demonstrating our role as a leading NATO ally and as a country that stands for the values of stability and democracy. Working closely with our partners is vital, not only for regional stability, but also for our own security," said British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Meanwhile, the UK Armed Forces Minister, Alistair Carns, said that British troops have carried out hundreds of missions to support KFOR "and expanding this commitment will keep Kosovo and the Western Balkans safer."
KFOR is the third security responder in Kosovo, after the Kosovo Police and the European Union rule of law mission, EULEX.
The NATO mission, among other things, is responsible for security on the border between Kosovo and Serbia.
NATO has increased its presence in Kosovo through 2023, following rising tensions in the Serb-majority north. KFOR currently has over 4,600 peacekeepers from 33 countries./REL
