The Ministry of Defence is exploring potential defence exports to Kosovo, highlighting possible benefits for both Kosovan security and the UK defence industry.
In a Written Question dated 3 February 2025, David Taylor (Labour – Hemel Hempstead) asked the Secretary of State for Defence about “the potential impact of UK arms exports to Kosovo on (a) Kosovan security and (b) growth of the UK defence economy.”
Maria Eagle, Minister of State at the Ministry of Defence, responded on 6 February by noting that the UK “continues to monitor the security situation in Kosovo closely,” while British forces remain “deployed in country supporting NATO’s KFOR mission to maintain a safe and secure environment.”
Eagle explained that “HMG are also currently exploring defence export opportunities to Kosovo,” which she said could “help support jobs throughout the United Kingdom and maintain our world-class defence-industrial base alongside bolstering Kosovo’s security and resilience.” She emphasised that any licences for these exports would be granted “in accordance with the UK’s Strategic Export Licensing Criteria,” ensuring that issues such as risk and the impact on regional stability are thoroughly considered.
Eagle added:
“We do not issue licences where to do so would be inconsistent with the Criteria including under Criterion 4 where we determine if there is a clear risk that the items would undermine overall peace and security.”
The Ministry of Defence’s scrutiny of arms exports to Kosovo, they say, is part of a broader effort to support peacekeeping missions and development in the region, while continuing to safeguard the UK’s defence and economic interests.
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Kosovo is not invading anyone, but is and will always be at risk from Serbia…as Kosovo is a generally western leaning nation and a definite enemy of Russia and Serbia is most definitely a close ally to Russia and will and does always pick Russia over the west, supporting Kosovo is a no brainier really.
Give the Yugo’s more weapons and we’ll get another Srebrenica, unbalkenised barbarians are still barbarians, ask the Romans. 🤦♂️
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Hmm maybe a good idea with we start arming ourselves first 🤔
I think the idea is to sell stuff to them not give them stuff.