NATO Crisis Update 4- "Rapid escalation"

At 19:34 a fire exchange was reported near Belasica, Kosovo. The police of Kosovo refused to share any information about the incident, while the local and international press claimed that a key member of Kosovo’s intelligence services had been kidnaped from Serbian militants.

Three days later, the SPKLF announced the kidnapping of Art Ukaj, who held a key position in Kosovo’s secret services. In its official announcement, the SPKLF upload an audio recording, in which Ukaj revealed the following:

US diplomats inflicted pressure upon members of Kosovo’s government (he named some of the members of the cabinet) so that a ban of Serbian cars and individuals from entering Kosovo was established.

The US Ambassador reassured those cabinet members that NATO would assist Kosovo in case of a military crisis with Serbia (However, no official statement was released by the NAC).

US intelligence agents have tapped the phones of several Serbian high officials and shared the gathered data with Kosovo’s intelligent services.

The US ambassador promised that they “will make sure that NATO shall expand cooperation in all possible fields”. Ukaj mentions that when the cabinet members expressed reservations on whether the US could actually shape NATO's decisions so easily and without objections from the other members, the US ambassador characteristically responded: “Do not worry about the rest of the members… We call the shots in the Alliance; in most matters, the rest act as puppets, and follow us in whichever direction we choose”.

Those revelations created political mayhem in all directions. The Serbian government, in its press release made word about “an attempt of the US and NATO to once again intervene in the Balkans “ and requested explanations about the alleged wiretaps on Serbian official’s phones. At the same time huge Serbian patriotic rallies gathered around the US, UK and French embassies in Belgrade. Although the protests were mostly peaceful, the burning of the US and NATO flags was reported.

Those revelations are sure to create strong tensions among the allies as well, as France, Germany and other strong players would be terribly annoyed by the alleged statements of the US ambassador in Kosovo.

Meanwhile, in the Serbia-Kosovo borders, a series of skirmishes between pro-Serbian and pro-Albanian militants have been reported, which led to the mobilisation of some military units from both sides. Both Serbia and Kosovo stated that this was solely for the preservation of public order in the area, whereas the international press warned that one mistake could lead to military escalation.