Serbian Troops at Kosovo Border on 'Full Combat Readiness'

Serbia has brought its troops located at the border with Kosovo to a state of 'full combat readiness', disregarding NATO's calls to de-escalate tensions. This was reported by Armenpress, citing the Associated Press.

Serbia's Minister of Internal Affairs Bratislav Gašić announced that police and other security units have been ordered to be in 'full combat readiness' under the command of the army chief of staff, in accordance with their 'operational plan'.

In his statement, he said that this action was taken on the orders of Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić to ensure that 'all measures are taken to protect the Serbian people in Kosovo'.

The Serbian Minister of Defense and the chief of the army staff visited the border with Kosovo and met with Serbian Armed Forces units stationed there.

On December 26, NATO peacekeepers announced they were investigating a recent shooting incident in the town of Zubin Potok, where ethnic Serbs have blocked the road with barriers for two weeks to protest the arrest of a Serbian former police officer.

Years after the war of 1998-99, Kosovo remains a flashpoint of tension in the Balkans. Serbia does not recognize its former province's declaration of independence in 2008, and Western mediation efforts to reach a resolution have so far floundered.

According to the Associated Press, tensions in Kosovo have increased since the start of Russia's military operations in Ukraine. The U.S. and most European Union countries have recognized Kosovo's independence, while Serbia relies on Russia and China to assert its claims over the region.

NATO peacekeeping forces have been present in Kosovo since 1999, when the transatlantic alliance bombed Serbia to force its withdrawal from Kosovo. The Kosovo government has called on NATO troops to remove the barriers set up by Serbs. Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti stated that 'freedom of movement must be restored, and there should be no barriers on any road'.

In turn, Serbia has asked NATO peacekeepers to deploy up to 1,000 troops in northern Kosovo to protect the ethnic Serbs living there from harassment by ethnic Albanians.