May 24, 2025 | Berlin / Pristina
Just two weeks into his tenure, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and his cabinet have taken a key foreign policy decision impacting the Balkans: extending the mandate of German troops in Kosovo under the NATO-led KFOR peacekeeping mission.
Germany has been part of KFOR since June 1999, following the withdrawal of Serbian forces and Kosovo’s liberation. It remains a core contributor to maintaining peace and stability in the region — a role reaffirmed this week by the German government.
Berlin: “A Peaceful Kosovo is of Vital Interest”
Government spokesperson Stefan Kornelius stated that a stable and peaceful Kosovo is of vital importance for Germany, NATO, and all of Europe.
“Germany’s contribution remains unchanged,” Kornelius told Klan Kosova’s Info Magazine.
“We continue to support the KFOR base with our personnel, including a deployed company and leadership roles within NATO’s Advisory and Liaison Team.”
The proposed extension now awaits approval from the German Bundestag.
Historical and Strategic Commitment
Since 1999, the Bundeswehr (German Armed Forces) has played an active role in KFOR’s mission to stabilize and safeguard peace in Kosovo. Despite ongoing political tensions in northern Kosovo, Kornelius noted that the security situation has recently stabilized, though short-term flare-ups remain possible.
He emphasized that KFOR’s ongoing presence is crucial to preventing escalation and ensuring stability across the Western Balkans.
Germany’s Expanding Military Footprint in Europe
Beyond the Balkans, Germany is also assuming a larger military role in other parts of Europe. This week, Chancellor Merz and Defense Minister Boris Pistorius visited Lithuania, where 5,000 German troops will be stationed along the borders with Russia and Belarus.
This will be Germany’s largest foreign troop deployment since World War II, apart from Kosovo, marking a historic strategic shift.
Merz declared that Germany’s era of “illusions” about Vladimir Putin’s regime is over, following Russia’s full-scale war in Ukraine, now in its third year.
“With this brigade on NATO’s eastern flank, every inch of Allied territory is protected,” he said.
