OSLO, Norway — NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Tuesday that the military organization has sent 700 more troops to Kosovo to help quell violent protests and has put another battalion on standby in case the riots spread.
“We have decided to deploy 700 more troops from the operational reserve force for Western Balkans and to put an additional battalion of reserve forces on high readiness so they can also be deployed if needed. These are prudent steps,” Stoltenberg told reporters in Oslo, after talks with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store. A battalion typically ranges from 300 to around 1,000 troops.
Stoltenberg condemned the violence in Kosovo, saying that “such attacks are unacceptable and must stop.” He warned that NATO troops “will take all necessary actions to maintain a safe and secure environment for all citizens in Kosovo.”
He urged both sides to take steps to deescalate, refrain from “further irresponsible behavior,” and to return to EU-backed talks on improving relations.
