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Kosovo: NATO's KFOR prepares for 'the inevitable'
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NATO's KFOR prepares for 'the inevitable'
Alliance forces in Macedonia are poised to move into Kosovo as soon as NATO gives the order, according to their commander, Lt Gen Sir Mike Jackson, commander of the Allied Command Europe Rapid Reaction Corps. "We are ready to implement an agreement very quickly," he said.
His comments follow those of UK Defence Secretary George Robertson who said last week that NATO's Kosovo force (KFOR) would deploy into the Yugoslav province at the "earliest opportunity" and could face a "hostile environment".
Last week's major reinforcement announcement by the North Atlantic Council will expand KFOR from the original 28,000-to-30,000 strong force to about 50,000. The peace implementation force will have a NATO-core, according to NATO spokesman Jamie Shea, but will include other undisclosed nations, thought to include Russia, Finland, Sweden and Ukraine.
Senior NATO and national officers in Macedonia dismiss speculation of a land forces invasion of Kosovo. Some talk of ground force operations now being driven by the weather as the snow comes to the region in late October. There is a widely held perception that the further build up will take two months, making it August or September before forces can lead the refugees back in anything other than a completely permissive environment. The officers say that such a situation on the ground is highly unlikely. "We expect to meet stay-behind teams of both the army (VJ) and the special police (MUP)."
The bulk of the expanded KFOR force will be provided by the European members of NATO. More than 12,000 UK personnel, including the headquarters of 3 (UK) Division, 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines and three infantry battalions, have been placed on standby to join the 7,000 UK troops already in Macedonia.
France has announced that is ready to increase the strength of its contingent in Macedonia from 3,000 to 7,000. France's Ministry of Defence said 2,000 troops had been put on alert at Miramas in southern France and that France would provide a further 2,000 if NATO called for further reinforcements. Their equipment would include 15 Leclerc main battle tanks and two 155mm artillery batteries.
Even if a permissive environment exists when KFOR troops enter Kosovo, there are considerable dangers to be faced, not just from renegade stay-behind snipers but from explosive devices including Yugoslav army minefields.
Paul Beaver JDW Special Correspondent
Jane's
Defence Weekly