Over 4,000 soldiers are deployed on the NATO mission
The NATO KFOR peacekeeping mission, authorised by the UN and established in 1999 following the wars in the former Yugoslavia (United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244), comprises 4,600 troops, of whom around 500 are American. The US contingent is the second largest after the Italian one, which plays a leading role both in terms of numbers (900 military personnel, 137 land vehicles and 1 aircraft) and command responsibilities.
Italia has led KFOR on 15 occasions
Including today’s, Italia has assumed command 15 times since 1999. The aim is to create a safe and secure environment and to support Kosovo’s institutions, with a view to achieving stability in the region. Italia has continued to provide a standby reserve force (NATO’s Operational Reserve Forces Battalion for the Balkan theatre of operations, shared with the KFOR mission) based in Italy, ready to intervene should the need arise.
The new commander, Vergori, born in 1971, has commanded the Folgore Brigade
The new KFOR commander, born in Lecce in 1971, commanded the Folgore Parachute Brigade from 2021 to February 2023, when he took charge of the Joint Task Force – Lebanon in the western sector of the UNIFIL mission in Lebanon. During his career, he has taken part in operations outside the mission area in Kosovo, FYROM (North Macedonia), Afghanistan, Lebanon and Libya.
The spectre of US military cutbacks
There is, however, one unknown factor: on 12 June, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, through US General Alexus Grynkewich, Supreme Allied Commander Europe, announced a gradual reduction in its military presence in Kosovo, to be implemented over the following twelve months, citing the improved security situation as the reason. It was made clear that the decision could be reviewed should the situation deteriorate. Following the rise in tensions and violence in 2023, including attacks on KFOR peacekeepers in Zvecan, the mission had received its largest reinforcement in over a decade, with the deployment of nearly 1,000 additional troops. A reversal of this trend is now emerging. At the time of the announcement, however, NATO did not specify how many US or other foreign troops would be withdrawn. Secretary-General Mark Rutte spoke of a return to pre-2023 reinforcement levels, namely a force of around 3,000–3,500 troops, compared with the current 4,600. This implies an overall reduction of between 1,200 and 1,700 personnel, but does not equate to a reduction of the same magnitude in the US contingent.
Hot topic
The Western Balkans are a region of strategic importance to the Alliance, which supports the EU-facilitated dialogue aimed at normalising relations between Belgrade and Pristina, as a framework for resolving outstanding issues whilst respecting the rights of all communities. At this stage, the issue of the reduction in the US contingent will in all likelihood be on the new Italian commander’s agenda.