NATO’s Kosovo Force Mission in Transition: Fifteen Years after the Deployment Past Experiences, Future Perspectives (original) (raw)
Related papers
NATO in Kosovo and the logic of successful security practices
International Affairs, 2024
NATO's involvement in Kosovo and its transformation from a military intervention to a UN-authorized peacekeeping operation has played a key role in the evolution of the alliance's strategic and political agenda. This article explores the importance of NATO's engagement with Kosovo in retrospect and in relation to the future outlook for European and global peace and security. It focuses on the centrality of this case for NATO's post-Cold War identity and as a key issue in the renewed political conflict associated with the transitional international order. We make three arguments. First, we argue that NATO's involvement in Kosovo has shaped and exacerbated the broader friction associated with the shifting international order. Second, we make the case that this engagement has played a key role in the strategic, political and operational development of NATO and its evolving identity. Thirdly, as a result of this, we argue that NATO's evolution and transformation in Kosovo was guided by what we call the logic of successful security practices. This entails making prudent political choices and implementing practical steps to harmonize divergent strategic interests among NATO members, adapting to shifting security circumstances, and upholding the organization's significance, credibility and influence both within and beyond the Euro-Atlantic community.
SSRN Electronic Journal, 2016
After the NATO operation "Allied Force", the conflict between Kosovo Albanians and Serbian forces in Kosovo, and the humanitarian catastrophe provoked by operations of Serbian military and paramilitary forces was ended. On the grounds of the United Nations Security Resolution 1244 1 (UNSCR 1244), NATO announced a cessation of bombing and deployment of KFOR forces under operation "Joint Guardian". NATO has attained new duties connected to post-conflict reconstruction of the society. In order to implement the mission of international military and civilian presence in Kosovo it was necessary to create, in a short time, a satisfactory level of security for functioning of international military and civilian administration in Kosovo. Basic precondition was demilitarisation of Kosovo. That referred to both, Serbian forces, and forces of Kosovo Albanians-Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA). Retreat of the Serbian forces from Kosovo was made under the terms of the Military Technical Agreement 2 signed in Kumanovo, Republic of Macedonia. The retreat of the Serbian forces under the terms of that agreement was ended on the 20 of June 1999. According to the provision of article 9 point b. UNSCR 1244 there had to be made a demilitarisation of the KLA and of other armed groups of Kosovo Albanians. That was a rather complicated task for NATO because, in the institutional vacuum after the retreat of Serbian forces and authority structures, when international forces were not in the position to overtake, especially, civilian elements of authority, KLA had established temporary civilian and military authority in the major parts of Kosovo. NATO did not want to cause negative reactions of the local Albanian population by in its first activities in Kosovo. Because of that NATO, on grounds of the articles of the Rambouillet Accord and UNHCR 1244 sought an agreement with the KLA for demobilisation and demilitarisation. The agreement was accepted and signed by the KLA and under the control of military components of the international administration in Kosovo-Kosovo Forces (KFOR) the demobilisation was completed. After the demobilisation of the KLA, the Kosovo Protection Corps (KPC) was formed. KPC was structured as civil emergency organisation which acted until the adoption of the Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo, which came into power on the 15 June 2008. By the Constitution it is regulated the dissolution of the KPC and creation of a new security formation in Kosovo-Kosovo Security Forces (KSF). The authority upon work and control of activities of the KPC during that time was made by Special Representative of the Secretary General of the UN (SRSG) and KFOR.
NATO and Humanitarian Action in the Kosovo Crisis
Humanitarianism and War Project, Brown University, 2000
In the context of the Kosovo crisis, this book analyses the increased role of international military forces in humanitarian action. Outlining major events and providing recommendations to various international actors, it specifically looks at the following issues of interaction of military with humanitarian actors: Operational division of labor between the two; Politicisation of humanitarian action; Tensions between the two institutional cultures; and Implications of the Kosovo experience for the future.
Compare NATO-E.U.-U.N. civil-military relations to control and administer Kosovo.
After the end of the Cold War's antagonism between the two blocs, a fundamental question about the new world order arose. The question of which state, group of countries or organization should dominate the realm of security and defence became the idée fixe of most discussions in the early 1990s. In Europe, this question has been asked with particular intensity, as it was here that an intensification of conflicts between ethnic and national groups had escalated most, especially in the Balkans, after the "Autumn of Nations". This question remains unsolved, while the relationships, or correlations between the three main political (defence) forces -NATO, the UN and the EU still raise many concerns.
ILIRIA International Review, 2012
Kosovo Liberation Army was demilitarized and demobilized pursuant to Rambouillet accord articles and 1244 Resolution, under the control of military component of the international administration in Kosovo – Kosovo Forces (NATO). Establishment of Kosovo Protection Corps (KPC) followed this process, with the civil emergency organizational mission, which operated until the adoption of constitution of Republic of Kosovo, promulgated on June 15, 2008. The constitution foresaw KPC disbandment and creation of a new security formation in Kosovo – Kosovo Security Forces (KSF). The decree of USA president, Xhorxh W. Bush, dated 19.03.2008 indicates the political importance of KSF creation in promotion of Kosovo’s independence.The Security Sector reform will keep its special focus in periodical review programming of KSF positional development in adaptation to new situation in security environment, reflecting concrete examples through new events, missions, tasks and roles for KSF units, always c...
A Peacebuilding Success: How has the Kosovo Force Facilitated Sustainable Peace in Kosovo?
MKI Policy Brief, 2023
After the Kosovo War ended on 10 June 1999, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) operationalized the Kosovo Force (KFOR) to maintain peace between Kosovo Albanians and ethnic Serbs. Since then, KFOR has ensured that conflicts between these two demographics do not escalate beyond the level of antagonism, thus maintaining peace in Kosovo. However, the dominant narrative perpetuated by political pundits often overlooks KFOR's contributions to peacebuilding and instead focuses on how ethnonationalism precipitates violent hostilities. Accordingly, this policy paper seeks to shine a light on KFOR's role by conducting a case study analysis of its operational activities. The analysis shows that KFOR has been integral to the formation of sustainable peace in Kosovo due to its enhancement of Kosovo's security sector reform process, the impact of its civil-military cooperation initiatives and psychological operations, and its ability to maintain operational readiness. Following the analysis, the paper presents two policy recommendations that are expected to reduce the likelihood of inter-community conflict if implemented by KFOR.
Kosovo in the Security and Defence Context of the Western Balkans
This paper examines Kosovo’s security and defence environment within the context of the Western Balkans. For this purpose, it firstly analyzes the national security and defence policies of the countries of the region, their military capabilities and defence spending, military exports and imports, as well as the distribution of military bases, independently from the influence of the key external security and defence actor – North Atlantic Alliance. Also, this analysis entails a wide range of the official data on these issues. Secondly, it analyzes the impact of NATO’s involvement on the security of the region, and this is done through the analyses of the military involvement, cooperation and membership mechanisms. Thirdly, it discusses Kosovo’s security dilemmas and defence challenges, including those with Serbia, and the prospects for possible official cooperation with NATO.