UK will continue commitment to Nato's Kosovo force until at least 2026

The UK's contribution to the Nato Kosovo Force (KFOR) Mission in Kosovo will continue until at least 2026, Armed Forces Minister James Heappey has announced during a visit to the region.

The UK has been a key contributor to the UN-mandated Nato force since it first entered Kosovo as a peacekeeping force in 1999 to bring peace and stability following the conflict of the 1990s.

Approximately 4,000 KFOR troops from 28 countries provide a safe and secure environment for the entire population.

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Mr Heappey visited Pristina, holding conversations with Kosovo's president and prime minister, as well as discussions with the country's defence minister and the commander of the KFOR Mission.

"It was a pleasure to meet with the Kosovan president and prime minister today and to announce the UK's further commitment to Nato's Kosovo Force," Mr Heappey said.

"The extension of our commitment to KFOR underlines our unwavering commitment to supporting security in the Western Balkans region," he added.

With the UK having been the first country to recognise Kosovo's independence in 2008, the small Balkan nation has been an important partner in the region for more than two decades.

KFOR acts as one of the main security providers in Kosovo, with contributing nations including Italy, Turkey, Poland, and the US, as well as the UK.

The UK's contribution to Kosovo's security includes a battalion-sized high-readiness Strategic Reserved Force based in the UK, ready to deploy at short notice.

Mr Heappey also visited Bosnia and Herzegovina on Monday, to focus on the country's Euro-Atlantic alignment and discuss the UK's contribution to the country's security, including joint training and the provision of equipment.