NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said on Wednesday that the security situation in the Western Balkans is fragile as Russia continues its efforts to undermine democracies in the region.
He made these comments on the eve of the two-day meeting of the defense ministers of the NATO member countries, who, as he said, will also discuss the alliance's operations in Kosovo.
"The situation in the Western Balkans remains worrying with threats of secession in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the fragile security situation in Kosovo and little progress in the EU-facilitated dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina," Secretary Rutte said at a press conference at headquarters. of NATO in Brussels.
He said that NATO's commitment to its peacekeeping mission in Kosovo remains strong. "For more than two decades, KFOR has maintained a calm and safe environment for all people in Kosovo and freedom of movement," said Secretary Rutte.
Currently, over 4,400 troops led by NATO take care of security in Kosovo, and during the past year, the alliance increased its presence after the tensions in the north of Kosovo, inhabited by a majority of Serbs.
Secretary Rutte said that Russia "is making efforts to hinder democracies in the region through hybrid threats, including disinformation. It is using internal fragilities to create division."
Western diplomacy has often warned that Russia may try to foment conflict in the Balkans to divert attention from its aggression in Ukraine.