The recent killing of a Kosovo police officer by a group of heavily armed Serbian nationalist militants has sparked major concerns about security in Kosovo and the western Balkans region. According to US Ambassador Jeffrey M. Hovenier, the attack was coordinated and sophisticated, with the large quantity of weapons suggesting a plan to destabilize the region’s security.
The authorities in Kosovo are pointing fingers at Serbia’s government and its president, Aleksandar Vučić. Prime Minister Albin Kurti posted photographs of the seized weapons and munitions, stating that the perpetrators had state backing and holding Serbia accountable for sponsoring terrorist violence on Kosovo’s territory. Serbia denies these allegations and has accused Kurti and his government of persecuting Kosovo’s Serbs.
It is widely believed that Serbia played a significant role in the attack, as the militants used Serbian territory as a staging area. Drone footage released by Kosovo police showed the vice-president of Srpska Lista, a primary Serb ethnic party in Kosovo, among the attackers. Srpska Lista is seen as a proxy enterprise of the Belgrade regime, and the individual in question, Milan Radoičić, is under US sanctions for his involvement in criminal activities.
The bigger question is how this attack was able to happen with a NATO peacekeeping force of 4,500 troops in Kosovo. These peacekeepers were previously attacked by Serb nationalist crowds in May, and Kosovo’s government has warned of the growing likelihood of renewed violence orchestrated by Serbia. Serbia’s deployment of fighter planes along the border for the first time since the 1999 Kosovo war further heightened tensions.
The answer to this question is not comforting. The attack is a direct result of a shift in American and European policy on the Kosovo-Serbia dispute and the broader region. Since 2020, Washington and Brussels have prioritized Belgrade’s interests over those of other neighboring countries, in an attempt to pacify nationalist leaders and diminish Russia’s influence. This approach has jeopardized Kosovo’s security, as well as the stability of Bosnia and Montenegro, where Serb nationalist militancy also poses a significant threat.
A significant course correction is necessary. The US and EU should reverse their sanctions against Kosovo and impose restrictions on the Vučić regime. Serbia’s EU accession efforts should be frozen until they demonstrate a serious commitment to de-escalation and acceptance of Kosovo’s independence. The five EU member states that do not recognize Kosovo’s sovereignty should also be criticized for exacerbating a major security issue in Europe.
Without these changes, meaningful dialogue cannot be achieved. It is crucial for the US and EU to address these issues and prioritize the security and stability of the region.
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