The United States is “asking Serbia to withdraw its troops” massed on the border with Kosovo, a White House spokesman said on Friday, as quoted by AFP.

KFOR troops in KosovoPhoto: Marjan Vucetic / Associated Press / Profimedia Images

“We are witnessing a significant military deployment by Serbia along the border with Kosovo,” including an “unprecedented” deployment of artillery, tanks and infantry units, said John Kirby, a spokesman for the National Security Council.

He did not want to comment on the risk of a possible invasion of Kosovo, whose independence Serbia does not recognize and which has been at the center of very high tension for several days.

John Kirby noted that “after the recent events of KFOR”, the forces deployed by NATO in this former Serbian province will “increase their presence” in the north of the territory.

He was unable to specify whether this was a simple redeployment of KFOR troops in northern Kosovo or a net increase in the number of troops deployed by the force.

John Kirby said US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken called Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic on Friday to express US “concern” and “underline the need for an immediate de-escalation and return to dialogue”.

US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan met with Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurti.

Serbia refuses to recognize the independence of the former Albanian-populated southern province, which was declared in 2008, ten years after a deadly war between Kosovo guerrillas and Serbian forces.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said Thursday that Belgrade can achieve more in dialogue with Kosovo through talks with the United States than through talks with the EU.

“I’m telling you this as honestly as possible because these people (in the U.S.) — at least some of them — are trying to look at things realistically. Because they look at things in Serbia with more understanding,” Aleksandar Vucic told a talk show host on RTS (Radio Television of Serbia) in an interview on Wednesday evening, Serbian news agency Tanjug reported on Thursday.

He noted that bilateral relations between Serbia and the United States have improved in many areas in recent years, but the clashes that took place in Kosovo on Sunday are a threat to those relations.

“We didn’t need it in our relations with America, but (Kosovo Prime Minister Albin) Kurti certainly did,” Vučić concluded.

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