Spain withdraws KFOR troops from Kosovo
(B2) The Spanish Defense Minister, Carme Chacon, announced it yesterday (Thursday, March 19), during a visit to Spanish soldiers based in Kosovo (the former Serbian province which has become independent). The 620 Spanish soldiers integrated into the NATO force in Kosovo (KFOR) will withdraw by the summer. “The mission is accomplished. It's time to go home." “This withdrawal will be staggered, and in coordination with the allies“ she added, according to what relates El Pais. It should be noted that throughout her visit to Kosovo - the independence of which Spain has not recognized - the Minister took great care not to lend herself to any sign that could be assimilated to such recognition, as explained my colleague.
This movement anticipates, in fact, the reduction in the volume of KFOR, in which NATO could become involved in the coming months. From around 15.500 soldiers at present (which is enormous for a country the size of two French departments), KFOR should thus increase, according to an initial plan in successive waves, to 9000 soldiers, then 7000, and to a residual force of 2500 soldiers. This third phase being located in the medium term.
This decision surprised and a little angry at the headquarters of the Alliance. NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, playing detachment, could not hide his surprise and disappointment at this decision. He felt that he " did not know the conditions of the withdrawal". And to add all the same, as a reminder: «If we change the size and structure of the mission, we must do so following a decision taken within the Alliance”. In fact, it seems that NATO was presented with a fait accompli. The 26 Members of the Alliance were to discuss it at the Kehl-Strasbourg summit and then in June. And there the surprise is total. Actually, " the Secretary General learned of it on the plane on Wednesday evening through a telephone call from the Minister “explained to me one of his relatives. And " no sign foreshadowed this decision ". The Minister had indeed spoken orally on Wednesday with the Secretary General of NATO and officially communicated by letter on Thursday. " At least we were informed before the press explained an official of the Alliance, a bit pinched. At the headquarters of the Alliance, we are a little worried and we fear that this withdrawal will spread or serve as an example for the withdrawal of other contingents (Romania, Poland, etc.). The military planners will meet to review the deployment plan. It is indeed a large contingent that is leaving.
Comment: Even if the two files are not intrinsically linked, this decision is related to two other discussions. That between the Europeans, within the European Union, on the reduction in volume of the Althea operation in Bosnia. Spain, which maintains a large contingent, also wanted to withdraw. And had announced it since last October. But many Europeans wanted to keep the mission, especially under NATO command. And the decision seems difficult to make (read here).
Another discussion: that on the reinforcements in Afghanistan. In other words: the Spaniards seem to be saying to the Alliance, if you want more troops there, you have to remove troops here. And you don't want us to remove them anyway.
