Great Britain Will Send an Additional Contingent of Military Personnel to Kosovo at the Request of NATO

British troops will be additionally deployed to Kosovo as part of the peacekeeping mission of the North Atlantic Alliance in response to the request of the Supreme Commander of NATO's Armed Forces in Europe, Christopher Cavoli.

This was reported by the official page of the British government.

According to the announcement, in the coming days, Great Britain will send 200 soldiers from the 1st battalion of the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment to Kosovo, who will join the 400-strong British contingent already based in the country as part of annual exercises.

"The deployment of the 1st battalion of the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment demonstrates the ability of the Armed Forces of Great Britain to respond quickly. We continue to remain an integral part of the NATO alliance, sharing our military experience and strength. The expansion of our support for the Kosovo Force (KFOR) underscores our unwavering commitment to NATO and the security of the Western Balkans region," said Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Great Britain.

The North Atlantic Alliance began its peacekeeping mission in Kosovo in June 1999. The "KFOR" mission began immediately after the 78-day NATO air operation against the regime of Slobodan Milosevic, aimed at ending the violence in Kosovo.

Overall, to support peace in the country, 28 countries, including NATO, have sent their military personnel to Kosovo. Specifically, Great Britain has deployed two intelligence units in Kosovo: the Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) unit and staff officers.

It is worth noting that on the eve, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg announced that "the North Atlantic Council has approved the deployment of additional forces to address the current situation."

"We call on all parties to immediately de-escalate. We continue to urge Belgrade and Pristina to engage in dialogue under the auspices of the EU, as this is the only way to resolve unresolved issues and reach decisions that respect the rights of all communities. This is the key to lasting security in Kosovo and stability in the region," Stoltenberg emphasized.

Recall that on September 24, armed militants stormed a village in northern Kosovo with armored vehicles. Armed individuals clashed with the police and took defensive positions in the Serbian monastery of Banjska. Later, Kosovo police managed to regain control of the territory.