FLASH
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The US Department of State confirmed for Radio Free Europe that Kosovo has requested to purchase Javelin missiles in the amount of 75 million dollars.
It is about 246 anti-tank missiles of this type, which are produced by the USA, according to an announcement by the US Agency for Security Cooperation.
In a response sent to REL, DASH said that on January 11, the US administration notified Congress of the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program proposal for the sale of Javelin missiles and other related equipment to Kosovo. .
"The US Department of State has often decided to approve foreign military sales to the Ministry of Defense of Kosovo, for the use of weapons by the Kosovo Security Forces", DASH said.
The sale of these weapons, according to DASH, supports "US foreign policy and national security objectives by improving Kosovo's security and developing its defense capabilities, interoperable with NATO, without changing the essential military balance in region or without affecting US defense readiness," a DASH spokesperson told Radio Free Europe.
The US, according to DASH, continues to support Kosovo in the "transparent transformation of the Kosovo Security Force into a multi-ethnic force for territorial defense, interoperable with NATO, subject to civilian supervision".
According to the US Agency for Security Cooperation, in the defense package that Kosovo has requested to buy, in addition to 246 Javelin FGM-148F missiles - including six test missiles that are sent to the buyer when he accepts the shipment - there are also 24 units for launching Javelin missiles, as well as other guides to the use of rockets, and tracking devices.
According to this agency, the contractors of this agreement will be the companies that produce Javelin missiles, Lockheed Martin and Raytheon Missiles and Defense.
"The proposed sale of these weapons will improve Kosovo's defense capabilities, in the long term, to protect sovereignty and territorial integrity and to meet its national defense requirements. Kosovo will have no difficulty incorporating these devices into its forces its armed forces," said the Agency for Security Cooperation.
Earlier on January 11, the Ministry of Defense of Kosovo told Radio Free Europe that the purchase of Javelin missiles is foreseen in the framework of increasing the military capacities of the Kosovo Security Force (FSK).
"The FSK is raising its military capacities, and, in this respect, there is a military agreement signed between the Republic of Kosovo and the United States of America, which operates within the framework of the FMS program, so that purchases are made through this the program. And, in this aspect, Javelin missiles and some other modern weapons systems are also included", said Liridona Gashi, political advisor to the Minister of Defense, Ejup Maqedonci.
The FMS (Foreign Military Sales) program is a program of the US military to provide security assistance and is an "essential tool of US foreign policy", according to the website of the US Agency for Security Cooperation. Under this program, the US government and a foreign government can reach an intergovernmental agreement, called a Letter of Offer and Acceptance.
The announcement of Kosovo's intention to purchase missile systems from the US comes at a time when tensions between Kosovo and Serbia are high. The Serbian President, Aleksandar Vučić, has described this news as "great disappointment".
In recent months, the Serbian army has several times moved troops towards the border with Kosovo, a border guarded by NATO's peacekeeping mission in Kosovo, KFOR, as several incidents were recorded in the north of Kosovo - inhabited by a majority of Serbs - including an armed attack by a group of Serbs against the Kosovo Police in Banjska i Zveçani.
The US has said that the first violence in Banjska, where a Kosovo policeman was killed and three Serb attackers were also killed in the ensuing clashes, will not be allowed to happen again.
Kosovo has also in the past bought or received weapons from the United States as a donation.
*Video: Features of the Javelin system
After the changes were approved in the Assembly of Kosovo in 2018, the then Government signed a contract with the American company, AM General, to equip the KSF with 51 Humvee-type vehicles.
Two years later, Kosovo also bought other military vehicles from the USA, while in 2021, the American Government donated 55 ASV (Armored Security Vehicle) vehicles to Kosovo.
The government of Kosovo has also approved a decision for the purchase of American drones, while the Kosovar authorities have warned that the future army will also be equipped with helicopters.
In 2028, when the KSF is expected to transform into an army, it is expected to reach all operational capacities for, as it has been said, "the preservation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Kosovo, as well as the citizens, property and interests of the country" .
KSF currently has around 2,500 members. After the transition period, this number is expected to increase to over 7,500 and include active and reservist members.
The budget for this year of the Ministry of Defense of Kosovo is in the amount of 153,049,911 euros./ REL
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