Serbian president accuses Türkiye of illegally arming Kosovo

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić has accused Türkiye of violating international laws and destabilizing the Western Balkans by supplying arms to Kosovo.

“I am horrified by Türkiye’s conduct, its brutal violation of the UN Charter and UN Security Council Resolution 1244, and its continued supply of arms to the Pristina authorities,” Vučić said in a social media post on Wednesday.

The Serbian leader argued it is now completely clear that Türkiye “does not want stability” in the Western Balkans and “once again dreams of re-establishing the Ottoman Empire,” adding, “Serbia is a small country, but we have understood the message clearly!”

Although a 1998 UN Security Council resolution prohibits the sale or supply of arms to Kosovo, the following year’s UN Security Council Resolution 1244 states that this prohibition “shall not apply to the sale or supply of arms and related materiel for use by the international civil and security presences.”

Belgrade and Ankara maintain complex relations, balancing deep historical and political tensions with economic cooperation. Türkiye remains one of Kosovo’s strongest allies and was among the first countries to recognize its declaration of independence from Serbia in 2008.

Vučić’s comments follow his accusation in March that Albania and Croatia were fueling an “arms race” in the region after signing a joint declaration on defense cooperation with Kosovo.

The latest accusations come amid escalating tensions in northern Kosovo, where occasional clashes between Serb communities and Kosovo security forces in recent years have reignited regional security concerns.

Ankara has not yet officially responded to Vučić’s statements, but Turkish officials have previously defended military cooperation with Pristina as part of efforts to strengthen regional defense capabilities.

In January 2024, Defense Minister Yaşar Güler and his Kosovar counterpart, Ejup Maqedonci, signed a military framework agreement in Ankara, expanding cooperation in arms sales, joint exercises, and training programs.