Kosovan–British
Map indicating locations of Kosovo and United Kingdom

Kosovo
United Kingdom
Diplomatic mission
Embassy of Kosovo, LondonEmbassy of the United Kingdom, Pristina
Envoy
Ambassador Ilir KapitiAmbassador Nicholas Abbott
Kosovan embassy in London, United Kingdom.

Kosovo–United Kingdom relations are foreign relations between the Republic of Kosovo and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. When Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia on 17 February 2008, the United Kingdom became one of the first countries to announce the official recognition of a sovereign Kosovo on 18 February 2008.[1][2] The United Kingdom has had an embassy in Pristina since 5 March 2008.[3] Kosovo has had an embassy in London since 1 October 2008. The two countries have very good and friendly relations.

Military

The United Kingdom participated in the 1999 NATO bombing of Yugoslavia, which resulted in a UN administration of Kosovo. The United Kingdom currently has 84 troops serving in Kosovo as peacekeepers in the NATO led Kosovo Force. Originally there were 19,000 British troops in KFOR.[4] Mike Jackson was the first KFOR Commander from 12 June 1999 until 8 October 1999.

On 25 April 2008, the British Government announced that it would send a battle-group based on 2 Rifles, a light infantry battalion of about 600 soldiers, to help maintain public order to serve as Peacekeepers in EULEX, an EU Police, Civilian and Law Mission in Kosovo.[5]

On 30 September 2023, it was reported that due to the build up of Serbian forces on the border between Kosovo and Serbia, the 1st Battalion of the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment was sent to Kosovo as part of KFOR.[6]

Political

The United Kingdom was an important player in the events of 1999. The Kosovo War, which Prime Minister Tony Blair had advocated on moral grounds, was initially a failure when it relied solely on air strikes; he believed that the threat of a ground offensive, which Bill Clinton had initially ruled out, was necessary to convince Serbia's President Slobodan Milošević to withdraw. Blair ordered that 50,000 soldiers - most of the available British Army - should be made ready for action.[7] Blair has visited Kosovo on several occasions since; other British Ministers who have had ministerial responsibility for policy towards Kosovo, such as Dennis MacShane, have also maintained their connections.

The disintegration of Yugoslavia and the end of the Cold War prompted the United Kingdom to shift its foreign policy in the Balkans, ending its support for Serbia in favor of building a unique bilateral relationship with Kosovo. The United Kingdom has acted as Kosovo’s protector, spearheading efforts to build state institutions and establish it on the international stage.[8]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "UK to recognise independent Kosovo - PM". United Kingdom Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street. 18 February 2008. Archived from the original on 10 May 2008. Retrieved 9 May 2008.
  2. ↑ Nicholas Kulish and C. J. Chivers (19 February 2008). "Kosovo Is Recognized but Rebuked by Others". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 16 April 2009. Retrieved 9 May 2008.
  3. ↑ "British Embassy in Pristina, Kosovo". Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Archived from the original on 20 July 2008. Retrieved 9 May 2008.
  4. ↑ "Kosovo Force (KFOR)" Archived 2009-10-05 at the Portuguese Web Archive www.nato.int Link accessed 21-07-09
  5. ↑ "New mission for British troops in Kosovo" Archived 2021-06-09 at the Wayback Machine guardian.co.uk 25 April Link Added 25 April 2008
  6. ↑ "1PWRR British Army troops on standby to provide potential support in Kosovo". Forces Network. 30 September 2023. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
  7. ↑ Marr, Andrew; A History of Modern Britain (2008 printing); page 550
  8. ↑ Dauti, Daut (22 February 2023), "Bilateral Relations between Kosovo and the United Kingdom", Kosovo’s Foreign Policy and Bilateral Relations, London: Routledge, pp. 254–270, ISBN 978-1-003-37158-8, retrieved 21 July 2023


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.