PRISTINA: Nato forces in Kosovo warned the government on Monday over the recent purchase of lethal drones from Turkiye, saying the peacekeeping operation remained in charge of the territory’s airspace.

The statement from the international peacekeeping force KFOR came a day after Prime Minister Albin Kurti announced the purchase and delivery of Bayraktar TB-2 drones from Turkiye.

“Regarding the use of all the categories of drones and the related limitations, including the Bayraktar TB-2... Kosovo Force (KFOR) Commander has the primary authority for airspace over Kosovo,” read a KFOR statement.

Tensions remain high across Kosovo following months of unrest in Serb-majority areas in the north, including a riot that saw more than 30 Nato peacekeepers injured during a clash with ethnic Serb protestors in May.

Kurti is set to meet this week with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic in Brussels, where the two sides are under increasing pressure to dial down tensions. On Sunday, Kurti posted photos on social media showing him standing next to the new drones.

“We have added to the arsenal of our army the TB-2 Bayraktar drones which we purchased from Turkiye!” said Kurti in the post.

“Kosovo is now safer and always proud!” The government aims to transform its Kosovo Security Force (KSF) into a 5,000 strong regular army with 3,000 reservists.

The KSF oversees civil operations such as firefighting, explosive ordnance disposal and search and rescue missions.

KFOR, however, remains the country’s top security institution with 4,500 troops provided by 27 allied and partner countries.

The peacekeeping force has been stationed in Kosovo since the end of the 1998-1999 war between independence-seeking, ethnic Albanian guerrillas and Serbian forces.

Published in Dawn, July 18th, 2023