The United States Ambassador to NATO, Julianne Smith, has affirmed that the NATO alliance’s peacekeeping mission in Kosovo, KFOR, will be fully equipped to tackle emerging challenges.

Prior to the gathering of defense ministers from Western military alliance nations, Smith informed reporters about their close monitoring of events at NATO headquarters in response to escalating violence in northern Kosovo.

Smith emphasized, “All of us here at NATO headquarters, all allies, have been closely following the situation in the Western Balkans. We have expressed concern over the rising signs of instability and specific flashpoints that have led to an increase in violence. Consequently, KFOR has recently made decisions to deploy strategic reserve forces”.

She noted that troops from the United Kingdom, Romania, and other countries have seen an increased presence in Kosovo.

Following the armed attack on Kosovo Police by a Serbian group on September 24, NATO initiated the deployment of additional troops as part of the KFOR mission.

The attack in Banjska, Zvecan, resulted in the death of Officer Afrim Bunjaku. Three attackers were killed during confrontations between the police and the armed group.

Kosovo has accused Serbia of involvement in the attack, while Belgrade has denied any connection.

Ambassador Smith emphasized that NATO allies will continue consulting with General Christopher Cavoli, NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe, to assess whether additional support is required for KFOR to fulfill its mandate in Kosovo and address any potential challenges.

She reiterated the call for all regional partners to opt for dialogue mediated by the European Union, emphasizing that dialogue remains the sole path toward normalizing relations between Kosovo and Serbia.

In other developments, defense ministers from 31 NATO member states will convene in Brussels on Wednesday and Thursday.