Kosovo–United Kingdom relations
 | |
 Kosovo |
 United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| Diplomatic mission | |
| Embassy of Kosovo, London | Embassy of the United Kingdom, Pristina |
| Envoy | |
| Ambassador Ilir Kapiti | Ambassador Nicholas Abbott |
Kosovo–United Kingdom relationsare foreign relations between theRepublic of Kosovoand theUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.When Kosovodeclared its independencefromSerbiaon 17 February 2008, the United Kingdom became one of the first countries to announce the official recognition of a sovereign Kosovo on 18 February 2008.[1][2]The United Kingdom has had an embassy inPristinasince 5 March 2008.[3]Kosovo has had an embassy in London since 1 October 2008. The two countries have very good and friendly relations.
Economic relations
[edit]From 1 April 2016 until 30 December 2020, trade between Kosovo and the UK was governed by theKosovo–European Union Stabilisation and Association Process,while the United Kingdom was amemberof theEuropean Union.[4]Following thewithdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union,the UK and Kosovo signed acontinuity trade agreementon 3 December 2019, based on the EU free trade agreement; the agreement entered into force on 1 January 2021.[5][6]Trade value between Kosovo and the United Kingdom was worth £13 million in 2022.[7]
Military relations
[edit]The United Kingdom participated in the1999 NATO bombing of Yugoslavia,which resulted in aUN administrationof Kosovo. The United Kingdom currently has 84 troops serving in Kosovo as peacekeepers in theNATOledKosovo Force.Originally there were 19,000 British troops in KFOR.[8]Mike Jacksonwas the first KFOR Commander from 12 June 1999 until 8 October 1999.
On 25 April 2008, the British Government announced that it would send a battle-group based on2 Rifles,a light infantry battalion of about 600 soldiers, to help maintain public order to serve as Peacekeepers inEULEX,an EU Police, Civilian and Law Mission in Kosovo.[9]
On 30 September 2023, it was reported that due to the build up of Serbian forces on the border between Kosovo and Serbia, the 1st Battalion of thePrincess of Wales's Royal Regimentwas sent to Kosovo as part ofKFOR.[10]
Political relations
[edit]The United Kingdom was an important player in the events of 1999. The Kosovo War, which Prime MinisterTony Blairhad advocated on moral grounds, was initially a failure when it relied solely on air strikes; he believed that the threat of a ground offensive, whichBill Clintonhad initially ruled out, was necessary to convince Serbia's PresidentSlobodan Miloševićto withdraw. Blair ordered that 50,000 soldiers - most of the available British Army - should be made ready for action.[11]Blair has visited Kosovo on several occasions since; other British Ministers who have had ministerial responsibility for policy towards Kosovo, such as Dennis MacShane, have also maintained their connections.
The disintegration ofYugoslaviaand the end of theCold Warprompted the United Kingdom to shift its foreign policy in theBalkans,ending its support for Serbia in favor of building a unique bilateral relationship with Kosovo. The United Kingdom has acted as Kosovo’s protector, spearheading efforts to build state institutions and establish it on the international stage.[12]
See also
[edit]- Foreign relations of Kosovo
- Foreign relations of the United Kingdom
- Serbia–UK relations
- United Kingdom–Yugoslavia relations
References
[edit]- ^"UK to recognise independent Kosovo - PM".United Kingdom Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street. 18 February 2008. Archived fromthe originalon 10 May 2008.Retrieved9 May2008.
- ^Nicholas Kulish and C. J. Chivers (19 February 2008)."Kosovo Is Recognized but Rebuked by Others".The New York Times.Archivedfrom the original on 16 April 2009.Retrieved9 May2008.
- ^"British Embassy in Pristina, Kosovo".Foreign and Commonwealth Office.Archivedfrom the original on 20 July 2008.Retrieved9 May2008.
- ^"Information relating to the entry into force of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and Kosovo (*), of the other part".Europa.eu.Retrieved25 March2016.
- ^"UK-Kosovo partnership, trade and cooperation agreement".GOV.UK.20 December 2019.Archivedfrom the original on 20 December 2019.Retrieved15 March2024.
- ^"Brexit trade deals: the agreements in place already, from Chile to the Faroe Islands – and what the UK could trade with them".iNews.27 January 2020.Archivedfrom the original on 29 August 2023.Retrieved15 March2024.
- ^"UK trade agreements in effect".GOV.UK.3 November 2022. Archived fromthe originalon 17 January 2024.Retrieved9 February2024.
- ^"Kosovo Force (KFOR)"Archived2009-10-05 at the Portuguese Web Archive www.nato.int Link accessed 21-07-09
- ^"New mission for British troops in Kosovo"Archived2021-06-09 at theWayback Machineguardian.co.uk25 April Link Added 25 April 2008
- ^"1PWRR British Army troops on standby to provide potential support in Kosovo".Forces Network.30 September 2023.Retrieved30 September2023.
- ^Marr, Andrew;A History of Modern Britain(2008 printing); page 550
- ^Dauti, Daut (22 February 2023),"Bilateral Relations between Kosovo and the United Kingdom",Kosovo’s Foreign Policy and Bilateral Relations,London: Routledge, pp. 254–270,ISBN978-1-003-37158-8,retrieved21 July2023
External links
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