Kosovo Security Force

Kosovo Security Force's Standard-bearer

Following the Kosovo War in 1999, United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 placed Kosovo under the authority of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), with security provided by the NATO-led Kosovo Force (KFOR). KFOR entered Kosovo on June 12, 1999 under a United Nations mandate, two days after the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1244.

After KFOR's entry into Kosovo, the Kosovo Liberation Army was disbanded and some of its members joined the newly-formed Kosovo Protection Corps (KPC). According to UNMIK regulation 1999/8, the KPC's tasks were to provide disaster response, conduct search and rescue operations, provide humanitarian assistance, assist in demining, and contribute to rebuilding of infrastructure after the war. KPC's membership grew over time, but it never had any role in defense, law enforcement, riot control, internal security, or any other law and order tasks. In 2007, the United States army transferred Camp Monteith in Gjilan to the Kosovo Protection Corps.

Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia in February 2008. On 19 March 2008, United States President George W. Bush authorised military aid to Kosovo in another step to establish formal relations with Kosovo.[3] In March 2008, the NATO-led Kosovo Force (KFOR) and the KPC started preparations for the formation of the Kosovo Security Force. According to guidelines laid out in the Ahtisaari Plan, the Kosovo Security Force was initially permitted to carry light weapons. The admission and the training of personnel began in early June 2008, when NATO experts arrived in Kosovo to guide the process, and from early December 2008, enlisting of candidates between 18 and 30 years old began.

On 20 January 2009, the names of those who were to be selected for the KSF from the KPC were announced. After being vetted by NATO, roughly 1,400 former members of the KPC were selected to serve as officers and rank and file members of the KSF.

On 21 January 2009, the Kosovo Security Force was officially launched. The KSF did not replace the Kosovo Protection Corps (KPC) which was disbanded several months later. KFOR was charged with mentoring the KSF and bringing the force to Full Operational Capability. As part of this effort, various nations that are part of KFOR have provided assistance to the force on a bilateral basis including uniforms which were supplied by the United States and vehicles which were donated by Germany. Mentoring efforts were meant to develop the KSF in line with NATO standards.[4][5][6] Additionally Italy, Portugal and other NATO members are to help the KSF by donations and training.[7][8] Slovenia donated €30,000 towards the establishment of the KSF.[6]

The following senior officers took their oaths on 16 June 2009, under the supervision of then KSF Commander Lieutenant-General Sylejman Selimi:[9]

• Lieutenant-General Bashkim Jashari – KSF Deputy Commander and Commander of Land Force Command
• Brigadier-General Xhevahir Geci – Commander of Rapid Reaction Brigade
• Brigadier-General Zymer Halimi – Chief of Operations and Training Department
• Brigadier-General Imri Ilazi – Commander of Operations Support Brigade
• Brigadier-General Enver Cikaqi – Commander of Training and Doctrine Command

Members of the Kosovo Security Force during an exercise near Istog.

On 15 September 2009 the Kosovo Security Force officially began the work, with its initial operational capacities after an eight-month training with NATO instructors.[10]

In 2010, the KSF deployed to northern Albania on two separate occasions to perform flood relief operations in support of the Albanian domestic response.

On 22 November 2011, Lieutenant General Sylejman Selimi retired from the KSF and President Atifete Jahjaga appointed the former Director of Operations Major General Kadri Kastrati to succeed him as Commander of the force. President Jahjaga also promoted Kastrati to the rank of lieutenant general.

On 9 July 2013, the North Atlantic Council determined that the Kosovo Security Forces had reached Full Operational Capability (FOC), with regards to non-military security operations that were not appropriate for the police. This included search and rescue operations, explosive ordnance disposal, control and clearance of hazardous materials, fire-fighting and other humanitarian assistance tasks..[11]

NATO's role in the creation of KSF has therefore been two-fold: helping with its formation – standing up, recruitment and training; and the establishment of a civilian-led organisation to supervise and control the KSF. One of the principal aims was to encourage all minorities to enroll, so special attention was given to carrying out the recruitment process in two languages – Albanian and Serbian. The result has been a professional, multi-ethnic, all-volunteer force, which should continue to remain a source of regional stability. Following the declaration of full operational capability, NATO will continue to support the development of the KSF through the NATO Liaison and Advisory Team (NLAT), consisting of a mix of approximately 30 military and civilian personnel that will help with the professional development of the KSF, providing advice and support in a variety of areas such as capacity-building and training and leadership.[12]

The Kosovo Security Force Band.

On 5 March 2014, Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi declared that the Kosovan government had decided to establish a Defence Ministry and by 2019, officially transform the Kosovo Security Forces into the Kosovo Armed Forces (Albanian: Forcat e Armatosura të Kosovës, FAK) which will meet all the standards of NATO states with the aim of joining the alliance in the future. The new army will have a €98 million annual budget and will be 5,000 strong with another 3,000 reservists, composed of land forces, a national guard, logistics and training commands.[13][14][15] Kosovo's Security Forces Minister Agim Çeku stated that the Kosovo Armed Forces' mission will be "to protect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Kosovo, its people and their property and protect the interests of the Kosovo Republic".[16] Kosovo's ambassador to Turkey, Avni Spahiu, stated that the "decision to establish an army has been taken in consultation with NATO and our partners... [and] the army will have a defensive character as Kosovo has no territorial aspirations".[17]

Kosovo Security Force rescuers searching for survivors after the 2019 Albania earthquake.

On 28 May 2014, President Atifete Jahjaga told the United Nations Security Council that the creation of the Kosovan Armed Forces would be a long process, requiring the support and participation of all ethnic communities in Kosovo; she added that its purpose would be to contribute to overall security in the Balkans and called on all ethnic communities to take part in the process.[18] In November 2014, Agim Çeku stated that the Kosovo Army was running behind schedule "because of the delay in the constitution of the Kosovo parliament" but the decision to transform the Kosovo Security Force into an Army will be confirmed "at one of the first sessions upon its constitution"; he also noted that this transformation enjoys nationwide support and he doesn't expect any complaints from the political opposition.[19]

A Kosovo Security Force Soldier watches troop commanders from 5th Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment walk through a combined arms rehearsal as part of Combined Resolve VI at Hohenfels, Germany.

On 18 October 2018, the Kosovo Assembly approved to transform the Kosovo Security Force into the Kosovo Armed Forces within 10 years after 98 of the 120 deputies voted in favor, and the remaining 22 remained absent from the vote, including 11 representatives from the Serb minority who boycotted the vote.[20]

With the aim to upgrade its military competencies and to make it able to join NATO, on 14 December 2018, the Assembly of Kosovo passed legislation to redefine the KSF as a "professional military force" and to establish a defence ministry.[21][22][23] The transformation is supposed to be finished in 2028. The Iowa National Guard is one of Kosovo Security Force's main partners and supporters in its transformation.[24]

The KSF's personnel trains in NATO military academies in Turkey, the US, and the UK, including School of Army Aviation in Isparta, West Point, and Sandhurst. Its current transformation is actively supported by NATO members and its closest cooperation is with the Iowa National Guard. After the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Assembly of Kosovo passed a resolution, urging the government to start NATO membership bid.[25]

Reactions

Maj. General Benjamin Corell of the Iowa National Guard inspecting a Kosovo Security Force soldier's equipment. The Iowa National Guard supports FSK in its transformation into the Kosovo Armed Forces.

Reactions to the transformation of KSF to KAF have been mixed. The move has been seen with scepticism by Serbia and by NATO, European Union and United Nations officials, but it has been endorsed by the United States, as well as the governments of Germany, United Kingdom and France.[26][27]

The Serbian authorities have repeatedly said that according to all international documents, and especially UN Resolution 1244, NATO-led KFOR is the only legal military formation in Kosovo alongside 999 Serbian military personnel guaranteed by Resolution 1244.[28] Jens Stoltenberg, Secretary General of NATO, said he regrets that the Kosovo Assembly has decided to transform KSF despite concerns from the alliance, adding that "this move comes at the wrong time".[29] Also, Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs has expressed regret over Kosovo's move to form a new army.[30] Furthermore, António Guterres, UN Secretary-General, expressed deep concern over the decision of Kosovo authorities, urging "all parties concerned" to exercise restraint.[31]

On the other hand, the United States fully supports and endorses the move. In a statement, the US Embassy in Kosovo stated that Kosovo is a sovereign nation, and as such, it is allowed to have a force to defend its territory. They confirmed that the United States will continue to support the development of KAF, and that they expect the cooperation of the KAF and NATO to continue.[32] The US. Ambassador in Kosovo, Philip S. Kosnett called the transformation a historical move.

A member of FSK with Kosovo's flag at a military parade in the Netherlands

Kosovo Security Force's duties are to defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Kosovo, provide military support to civilian authorities, and to participate in international military operations.

The Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Kosovo (MoD) is responsible for exercising civilian control over the Force, including management and administration. It comprises a mixture of civilian and KSF personnel and is accountable, through the Prime Minister, to the Kosovo Assembly.

The mission of the MoD, is to formulate, implement, evaluate and develop the policies and activities of the KSF within a framework of democratic governance and in accordance with the Constitution and laws of the Republic of Kosovo.

Members of the Kosovo Security Force

Any citizen of Kosovo over the age of 18 is eligible to serve in the Kosovo Security Force.[33] Active members of the Kosovo Security Force are not legally allowed to run for, or serve in the Assembly of Kosovo.[34] The membership of the Kosovo Security Force is required to reflect the ethnic composition of the country.[35] Members of the Security Force are protected from discrimination on the basis of gender or ethnicity.[36]

The Ministry of Defense has taken active steps to recruit women into the Security Force. As of 2015, women made up 8.52% of the uniformed service members of the Security Force and 32% of the Ministry as a whole.[37] Of the 203 women in uniform in the Security Force, 21 are officers; the highest ranking woman in the Security Force is a Major-general Irfete Spahiu.[38]

According to the Law on the Kosovo Security Force, KSF can have up to 5,000 active soldiers and up to 3,000 reservists, but it allows the Force to recruit above that number based on strategic defense reviews.[39] As of 2023, KSF has surpassed the 5,000 active members threshold and is steadily recruiting over 1,000 new members per year.

Organogram of Kosovo Security Force Headquarters

Under the headquarters staff depicted above, the KSF comprises the Land Force Command (Rapid Reaction Brigade of three battalions, First Battalion at Gjilan and Second Battalion at Istog;[43]) Operational Support Brigade, including engineer unit and Civil Protection Regiment; Doctrine and Training Command); plus a Logistics Command and National Guard Command (2023).[44] There are approximately 3,300 KSF personnel, including reserves.

Military rank insignias

Vehicles plates

Main article: Military ranks of Kosovo

Officers

Rank group	General / flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers								Officer cadet
Kosovo Security Force[45]
					Gjeneral lejtnant		Gjeneral major		Gjeneral brigade		Kolonel		Nën kolonel		Major		Kapiten		Toger			Nën toger

Enlisted

Rank group	Senior NCOs																						Junior NCOs						Enlisted
Kosovo Security Force[45]
							Rreshter major		Rreshter i parë		Kapter						Rreshter						Tetar						Ushtar