The NATO-led peacekeeping force in Kosovo has warned the government in Pristina after it bought armed drones from Turkey, reiterating that the force is solely in charge of the airspace above Kosovo.
This statement, issued on Monday by KFOR, came a day after Prime Minister Albin Kurti announced the delivery of the TB-2 Bayraktar drones.
“Regarding the use of all categories of UAVs and the corresponding limitations, including with regard to the TB-2 Bayraktar, the KFOR commander has primary authority over the airspace above Kosovo,” the KFOR statement said.
Prime Minister Kurti posted photos on social networks on Sunday showing him next to the new drones.
“We have added the TB-2 Bayraktar drones we bought from Turkey to our army’s arsenal,” he said. “Kosovo is now safer and still proud!”
The TB-2 Bayraktar received media attention last year for its role in the early stages of Ukraine’s defence against the Russian invasion and has been purchased by around 10 armies, according to Military Balance, an annual assessment published by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS).
The Kosovar government wants to transform the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) from a lightly armed emergency force into a regular army of 5,000 men, with 3,000 reservists. However, KFOR, present in the country since the 1998-99 war, remains the main institution in charge of Kosovo’s security, with 4,500 soldiers from 27 countries.
Tensions remain high in Kosovo after months of rioting in Serb-majority areas in the north. At the end of May, more than 30 KFOR soldiers were injured.
Kurti is due to meet Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic this week in Brussels.
Both sides are under heavy pressure from the European Union to reduce tensions.
