After the Serbian far-right terrorist attack in Banjsk, North Kosovo, Serbia deployed tanks, artillery, and troops to the Northern Kosovo-Serbia border. The White House warned Kosovo of this military buildup and was monitoring the situation and considered it “unprecedented.” White House National Security Council spokesman stated that this military buildup is destabilizing and called on Serbia to remove those forces. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken urged Vucic to de-escalate and return to dialogue.
Serbia has denied this buildup. Vucic has told reporters that their forces were only on alert and not building up. However, the United States has found evidence that there has been a buildup and after last week’s attack, the United States has been on high alert. John Kirby, National Security Council Coordinator, stated that the previous attack was not random, but a threat to Kosovo and NATO personnel. In response to this buildup, NATO has authorized additional troops and the United Kingdom deployed an additional 200 troops to Kosovo.
Serbia will continue to put pressure on Kosovo. Alexander Vucic will stop at nothing until he gets what he wants which is all of Kosovo. Vucic has publicly stated that for as long as he is president, he will not recognize Kosovo as independent. The EU and the United States have tried to remedy this situation, but Gabriel Escobar and Josep Borrell have failed.
Gabriel Escobar during a press conference. Photo Credits: Euronews Albania
Escobar’s and the EU’s solution for the Association of Serb-majority Municipalities to give Serbians living in Norther Kosovo a representation will not work. The Serbians that make up these municipalities will never recognize Kosovoan IDs, government documents, license plates, etc. It already tried and failed terribly with clashes that have occurred over this. They are trying to implement solutions neither side wants. Secondly, there is no guarantee from the EU that should this Association plan go through, what is the guarantee that Serbia won’t put pressure to continue spreading influence further into Kosovo to try to gain more localities.
Escobar’s interview with The Pavlovic Today occurred on September 21st and 4 days later, the siege occurred in Northern Kosovo. A top Kosovo-Serb politician, Milan Radocic said he took part in this gun battle and publicly stated that he prepared the logistics for the whole attack. But, Escobar and Borrell previously pointed fingers at the Kosovoan government for failing to reach a deal over the municipalities and the U.S. sanctioned Kosovo.
The U.S. and the EU are putting pressure on the wrong country. Kosovo has repeatedly stated it will do its best to implement goals decided on a decade ago, but Serbia has constantly put pressure on Kosovo. After many failed attempts, the U.S. finally recognizes that Vucic and Radocic do not care what they think and will not settle until they get what they want, which is north Kosovo or all of Kosovo.
The United States and EU need to put more pressure on Serbia. Russia will not be able to aid Serbia as they are too tied up in the war. If the military buildup continues, the US should consider financial sanctions and the EU should threaten a no-pathway scenario for EU membership if Serbia does not recognize Kosovo as independent. It is direct actions like these that can show the international community that the U.S. and EU will not tolerate more flare-ups in Europe and can serve as a message to Russia that European integrity will be protected at all costs.
Author: Aleksandro Spaho
