Kosovo-Serbia Conflict: The clouds of the ongoing Ukraine-Russia war in Eastern Europe have not yet cleared, but a front of confrontation has started to smolder. It seems that this month-long conflict will turn into a war in the new year and Russia and NATO countries will come face to face on this front.
The situation is such that the Serbian Defense Minister Milos Vucevic on Monday (26 December) issued a high alert for his forces to be ready for war anytime. So on the other hand, Kosovo, which became independent from Serbia in 2008, also decided not to back down.
What is the latest controversy?
On Sunday (December 25), there was allegedly firing on the border of the two countries. Kosovo alleged that this firing was done by Serbia, while Serbia says that this firing was done by KFOR (NATO-led international peacekeeping force in Kosovo) stationed in Kosovo.
This incident further fueled the tension between the two countries which has been going on for the last 10 months. KFOR said it is probing the matter. At the same time, the Prime Minister of Serbia, Ana Brnabic, said that this is a conspiracy to start a war between the two countries.
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What did NATO say amid tension?
Amid ongoing tensions in Kosovo and Serbia, the European Union and NATO called on both sides to exercise complete restraint and make efforts for peace. More than 3500 NATO soldiers are stationed on Kasov and Serbia border.
Why does stress increase?
About 50,000 citizens living in the north of Kosovo are of Serb ethnicity. They use license plates and documents issued by the Serbian authorities for their ethnic identity. Also do not recognize the right of Kosovo to implement the rules and provisions. This is a fault line of tension, in which the mercury often rises in relationships when tension increases.