Italy intends to maintain its security engagement in Kosovo even if NATO’s KFOR mission reduces its presence in the future, Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto has said.
Speaking during the handover ceremony in Pristina, where Italian General Roberto Vergori took command of KFOR, Crosetto stressed that stability in the Balkans is an essential part of European security.
“We will continue our commitment even when KFOR reduces its presence in Kosovo,” Crosetto said, highlighting the need to strengthen surveillance capabilities and prevent potential threats.
According to Euronews Italia, the minister also raised the possibility of deploying radar systems in the region to protect countries in the area and contribute to Italy’s own security.
The discussions come amid growing concerns about missile capabilities and the increasing complexity of potential threats. Crosetto pointed to attacks on airports in Saudi Arabia attributed to Yemen’s Houthi rebels as an example of the challenges facing modern air defence systems.
Among the Italian technologies potentially relevant to such a project are Leonardo’s Kronos radar systems, including the Kronos Grand Mobile High Power, which can detect and track multiple targets, including tactical ballistic missiles, and Italy’s CAEW airborne surveillance and early-warning aircraft.
However, Crosetto has not specified which radar model could be deployed. No confirmed procurement or deployment decision has been announced, and the proposal remains a strategic possibility rather than a finalised project.
Italy continues to support Kosovo’s security through its participation in KFOR while also backing EU-mediated dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade. Rome considers regional cooperation and the normalisation of relations between Kosovo and Serbia important to long-term stability in the Western Balkans.
