BRUSSELS, June 12 – The North Atlantic Treaty Organization announced Friday it plans to scale back its peacekeeping force in Kosovo during the coming year, citing improved security conditions in the region where troops have been stationed since 1999.
“NATO and KFOR are fully committed to safety and security in Kosovo,” said U.S. Air Force General Alexus G. Grynkewich, Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) in a statement.
“It is this commitment that has led to increased stability as the security organisations in Kosovo have become more capable. The current conditions provide an opportunity to optimise KFOR’s size and posture further,” he added.
The alliance indicated that measured force reductions will align with regular troop rotation schedules between now and next year.
Officials emphasized the modifications will happen incrementally based on local circumstances and can be undone if security conditions deteriorate.
