Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti said on Friday there was no room for complacency over regional security, accusing Serbia of maintaining 48 forward military positions around Kosovo’s border and describing Belgrade as a proxy of Russia.
Speaking during an official visit to Britain at the London Defence Conference, Kurti said hybrid warfare had become a constant feature of modern politics and security.
“there is no reason for much relaxation,” Kurti said, according to a statement from his office. He said Serbia was “a proxy of Russia” and that 48 forward operational bases were positioned around Kosovo’s border, in what he described as NATO’s security zone.
Kurti also alleged that the Kremlin had an office inside Serbia’s Defence Ministry in Belgrade and said the regional centres of Russian state-backed outlets Russia Today and Sputnik for the Balkans were located in Serbia.
Reuters could not independently verify those claims.
Kurti said the Western Balkans remained vulnerable to destabilising influences and called for greater resilience, adaptability, rule of law, anti-corruption efforts and respect for human rights.
Referring to Russia’s war in Ukraine and broader security challenges in Europe, he said the conflict could become an opportunity for the European Union to deepen its unity.
“If the European Union manages certain battles in this decade, the next decade can easily become the EU’s decade,” Kurti said, adding that NATO, Britain and the United States could play a major role.
He also stressed the importance of developing the defence industry, including arms and ammunition production, and said governments needed to engage more closely with young people.
“The gap between generations is problematic, and hybrid warfare can be fatal,” he said.