Italy has taken command of the NATO mission in Kosovo. The announcement was made by Defense Minister Guido Crosetto, who emphasized the strategic importance of the operation for the security of the Balkan region and of Italy itself.
During the same statement, Crosetto revealed that a radar system will be installed in the Balkans. According to the minister, this device will also serve to strengthen the defenses of Italian national territory, creating an additional layer of protection.
The NATO mission in Kosovo, known as KFOR (Kosovo Force), was established in June 1999, at the end of the Kosovo War. The conflict, which erupted in 1998 between Serbian forces and the Albanian Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), led to a massive NATO bombing campaign against Yugoslavia to stop Serbian repression. KFOR was created to ensure security in a Kosovo under international administration, after UN Security Council Resolution 1244 established its protectorate status.
The mission, initially composed of tens of thousands of soldiers, has evolved over time by reducing its contingent as the situation stabilized and local Kosovar institutions (which declared independence in 2008) took on greater responsibilities. However, ethnic tensions between the Albanian majority and the Serbian minority, concentrated mainly in the north of the country, persist, making the international presence necessary to prevent new clashes. Italy's assumption of command represents a continued commitment to the region, considered crucial for the stability of the entire southeastern Europe.
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