Peace Held in Kosovo. Is NATO Leaving Too Soon?

The lesson of Bosnia and Kosovo is stark. Violence expanded when democracies hesitated and receded only when power intervened to stop aggression against civilians decisively.

Twenty seven years after NATO intervened to halt the violence that was consuming Kosovo, the Alliance has announced¹ that it will begin optimising the size and posture of its peacekeeping force in the territory. The decision follows an intelligence driven assessment by NATO that the security situation has improved sufficiently to permit a gradual reduction of forces over the coming year.

The announcement, issued from NATO’s military headquarters in Mons, Belgium, marks a significant moment in the history of the Alliance’s longest running peace support operation. Since 1999, the Kosovo Force, known universally as KFOR, has stood as the guarantor of a safe and secure environment in Kosovo and the protector of freedom of movement for all communities under the authority granted by United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244.

NATO officials stress that the adjustment does not represent a withdrawal. Rather, it reflects confidence in the improving capabilities of Kosovo’s institutions and …