Federico Bernacca, the deputy commander of NATO’s Kosovo Force (KFOR), issued a stern warning during the Budapest Balkan Forum, organized by the Hungarian Institute for International Affairs (HIIA), against any aggression towards KFOR personnel, emphasizing the formidable response such actions would provoke. “Anyone seeking to trouble our members will find themselves facing the entire might of the most powerful military organization on the planet,” stated General Bernacca, recalling last May’s violent protest by Serbian demonstrators in Zvečan—a majority-Serbian municipality in northern Kosovo—that resulted in severe injuries to numerous KFOR soldiers. “We hope for the swift recovery of the wounded soldiers.”
Additionally, Bernacca highlighted the significant security threats in the Western Balkans, including Kosovo, exacerbated by the war in Ukraine, the spread of misinformation, and the creation of a socio-political vacuum that could be exploited by irrational or emotive actors, particularly in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
“There can be no military solution to the issues between Kosovo and Serbia. Only through diplomacy and dialogue led by the European Union (EU) can these problems be resolved once and for all,” the Italian general emphasized, adding that this does not mean KFOR will not remain vigilantly monitoring every corner of Kosovo’s territory 24/7.
