United States: The United States has called on Serbia to withdraw its forces from the border with Kosovo. The White House warned that Serbia has deployed sophisticated tanks and artillery near the frontier with Kosovo after deadly clashes erupted at a monastery in northern Kosovo last weekend.
The conflict, which has led to the killing of a Kosovan police officer and three Serb gunmen, is one of the gravest acts of violence between Serbia and the former breakaway province that is now Kosovo.
“We are monitoring a large Serbian military deployment along the border with Kosovo,” White House National Security Council spokesman Mr. John Kirby told reporters.
“That includes an unprecedented staging of advanced Serbian artillery, tanks, and mechanised infantry units. We believe that this is a very destabilising development. We are calling on Serbia to withdraw those forces from the border,” Mr. Kirby noted.
According to the spokesman, the buildup took place over the past week, though its purpose is not yet clear. “US Secretary of State Mr. Antony Blinken telephoned Serbian President Mr. Aleksandar Vucic earlier on Friday to urge “immediate de-escalation and a return to dialogue,” Mr. Kirby added.
“I have denied untruths where they talk about the highest level of combat readiness of our forces because I simply did not sign that, and it is not accurate. We don’t even have half the troops we had two or three months ago,” Mr. Vucic told reporters.
Encouraging call w/ @POTUS NSA @jakejsullivan. Thanked him for ?? support of ?? border security & requested increased assistance against Serbia's warfare plans. Assured him of continued Kosova Police cooperation w/ KFOR & that our commitment to protect all citizens is unshakable.
— Albin Kurti (@albinkurti) September 29, 2023
US National Security Adviser Mr. Jake Sullivan spoke with Kosovo Prime Minister Mr. Albin Kurti and “expressed concern about Serbian military mobilisations.”
Mr. Kurti later posted on X that he had “requested increased assistance against Serbia’s warfare plans” from the US.
According to reports, the two “discussed the EU-facilitated dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, which Mr. Sullivan underscored was the only long-term solution to ensuring stability throughout Kosovo.”
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