NATO Warning!, Türkiye | Kosovo | NATO
According to Agence France Presse, NATO forces in Kosovo warned the Kosovo authorities on July 17 about the recent purchase of UAVs from Türkiye, saying that peacekeeping operations were still controlling the airspace in the region.
According to reports, the NATO led "Kosovo Peace Implementation Force" wrote in a statement: "Regarding the use and related restrictions of all types of drones, including the TB-2" Flagbearer "drones... the Commander of the Kosovo Force has the primary authority over the airspace over Kosovo."
On July 16, the leader of the Kosovo authorities, Albin Kurti, said that Türkiye had purchased the TB-2 "Flagman" UAV and announced that the "Kosovo Security Forces" would deploy the UAV. On that day, Kurti posted a photo on social media showing him standing next to the new drone.
▲ On July 16, 2023 local time, Kosovo leader Albin Kurti took a group photo with officials after receiving the TB-2 UAV manufactured by Türkiye.
This year, the tense relationship between the Kosovo authorities and Serbia has once again escalated. According to reports, Kurti will meet with Serbian President Alexander Vucic in Brussels this week, and both sides are facing increasing pressure to ease tensions.
The TB-2 Flagbearer drone is a large drone of the same class as the MQ-9 Reaper drone manufactured in the United States. It carries laser and infrared guided anti tank ammunition.
Kosovo was an autonomous province of the former Federal Republic of Serbia and was entrusted to the United Nations after the end of the Kosovo War in June 1999. In 2008, Kosovo unilaterally declared independence but never received formal recognition from the United Nations. Serbia has always upheld its sovereignty over Kosovo. The Serbian government and Kosovo authorities have had multiple disputes over the rights of approximately 50000 Serbian residents in Kosovo.