Turkey Takes Over NATO Kosovo Mission as Serbia Tensions Bubble
- Turkey developing trade ties with Serbia; allied with Kosovo
- Balkan nations have seen their worst clashes in a decade
NATO forces perform an air patrol near Mitrovica, Kosovo.
Photographer: Eren Beksac/Anadolu Agency/Getty ImagesThis article is for subscribers only.
Turkey will assume command of the NATO-led force in Kosovo at a critical time as tensions flare between the Balkan nation and neighboring Serbia.
Turkey, which has the largest army in NATO after the US, will take over leadership of the mission from Italy on Oct. 10, Rear Admiral Zeki Akturk, the spokesman of Turkey’s Defense Ministry, said Thursday. The country has relations with both sides, having developed trade ties with Serbia while supplying combat drones to predominantly Muslim ally Kosovo.