Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti has described recent Serbian army exercises near the border with Kosovo as “extremely worrying,” accusing Belgrade of using its military to exert pressure and destabilise the Western Balkans, Koha.net reported on March 19.

The latest exchange of rhetoric highlights persistent tensions between Kosovo and Serbia, particularly along their shared border, where security incidents and military activity continue to to raise concerns about regional stability.

Speaking at a government meeting, Kurti claimed Serbia was using its armed forces as a tool of blackmail to keep the region in a state of constant tension, and called on the international community to respond.

He argued that the drills represented both a show of force and an attempt to intimidate ethnic Albanians living in southern Serbia. “These provocations near the border strip in Karaçevo by the unit of the 63rd paratrooper brigade of Serbia, through training with H145M helicopters and threats with parachutes a few meters from the border with Kosovo, constitute a dangerous display of aggression,” Kurti said.

“This display becomes even more alarming when we remember that the same unit trained and supported the group of criminal Milan Radoicic, who carried out the aggressive and terrorist attack in the village of Banjska, Zvecan, when they killed police sergeant, Afrim Bunjaku - the hero of Kosovo,” Kurti said.

The incident he referred to is the armed clash in the village of Banjska in northern Kosovo, which significantly heightened tensions between Pristina and Belgrade.

Kurti further accused Serbia of attempting to test the readiness of both local and international security institutions, while acting in line with the interests of its allies.

He said Belgrade was “using this moment to challenge the readiness of local and international security institutions and the stability of the Western Balkans in general, according to the interests of Serbia and its allies Russia and Iran.”

Kosovo’s prime minister said that domestic institutions remain on alert, but called for stronger international action.

“Kosovo's institutions remain vigilant and ready to face any threat. But it is time for the international community to punish this destabilizing approach of Serbia that directly threatens regional peace and security,” Kurti said.