NATO Cuts Kosovo Force as U.S. Seeks Allies to Replace 590 American Troops
Updated
Updated · The Associated Press · Jun 12
NATO Cuts Kosovo Force as U.S. Seeks Allies to Replace 590 American Troops
3 articles · Updated · The Associated Press · Jun 12
Summary
KFOR will withdraw some troops and equipment from Kosovo, with NATO saying current conditions allow the peacekeeping force to be “optimized” after years of gradual drawdowns.
590 U.S. troops are currently deployed with KFOR—second only to Italy’s 907—but NATO declined to say which units will leave or whether any Americans will be part of the cut.
The move comes as Washington reduces some wider military commitments in Europe and presses European allies and Canada to quickly replace U.S. aircraft, naval vessels and other capabilities before a July 7-8 NATO summit in Turkey.
1,000 extra troops were sent to Kosovo in 2023 after renewed violence, but NATO’s top commander said intelligence and Russian troop movements show no immediate threat of a Russia-NATO conflict even as Europe plans for longer-term risks.