{"id":59351,"date":"2021-03-09T21:44:08","date_gmt":"2021-03-09T21:44:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2021\/03\/09\/kosovo-sends-troops-to-kuwait-on-1st-peacekeeping-mission-ksf-to-operate-under-us-central-command\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T11:05:14","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T11:05:14","slug":"kosovo-sends-troops-to-kuwait-on-1st-peacekeeping-mission-ksf-to-operate-under-us-central-command","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/pentagon-congress\/2021\/03\/09\/kosovo-sends-troops-to-kuwait-on-1st-peacekeeping-mission-ksf-to-operate-under-us-central-command\/","title":{"rendered":"Kosovo sends troops to Kuwait on 1st peacekeeping mission; KSF to operate under US Central Command"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

PRISTINA, Kosovo \u2014 Kosovo on Tuesday sent a military platoon to Kuwait to take part in the country\u2019s first ever international peacekeeping mission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A ceremony was held at the army barracks in the capital, Pristina, in the presence of top leaders and western military attaches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s extremely important because 22 years after the war<\/a>, we\u2019re not just importing peacekeeping troops, we\u2019re also exporting them,\u201d Acting President Vjosa Osmani said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kosovo is sending the unit on a six-month tour following a request from the U.S. Central Command. Its troops will be under the command of the National Guard of Iowa. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Defense Ministry said the Kosovo unit \u201cwill operate under the Central Command of the American forces responsible for a geographic zone, including the Middle East, part of South Asia and Northeastern Africa.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No specifics on the exact location in Kuwait or the number of Kosovo peacekeepers to be deployed were made public. A platoon of 32 soldiers was seen lined up during the ceremony.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Kosovo Security Force (KSF) members wearing protective face masks line up during a peacekeeping mission deployment ceremony held at the army barracks in Pristina, Tuesday, March 9, 2021. (Visar Kryeziu\/AP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Kuwait and the United States have a formal Defense Cooperation Agreement and approximately 13,500 U.S. forces are based in Kuwait, primarily at Camp Arifjan<\/a> and Ali Al Salem Air Base<\/a>. Since 2004, Kuwait has been designated as a major non-NATO ally. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a video conference call, Maj. Gen. Ben Correll of the Iowa National Guard hailed Kosovo\u2019s contribution to preserving global peace and security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe partnership between Iowa\u2019s National Guard and the KSF greatly contributes to these efforts and demonstrates to others what is possible by working hard and relationship,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 3,400-troop Kosovo Security Force <\/a>was turned into a regular army two years ago, although its name has not been changed to armed forces as planned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In about a decade, Kosovo\u2019s lightly armed army is expected to have 5,000 troops and 3,000 reservists tasked with handling crisis response and civil protection operations. They are heavily supported by the United States.<\/p>\n\n\n\t