NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has condemned the recent violent outbreaks in Kosovo, stating that they are unacceptable and the perpetrators must be brought to justice. During his visit to Belgrade, Serbia, Stoltenberg called on all sides to reduce tensions and avoid further escalations. His visit to the Balkans reflects the Western concerns over the stability of the region, which has experienced a series of wars in the 1990s.

The tensions in Serbia and Kosovo escalated after two violent incidents in May and September, which coincided with the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Western allies fear that Russia may be attempting to provoke instability in the Balkans to divert attention from its aggression in Ukraine. In May, Serb demonstrators in northern Kosovo clashed with NATO peacekeeping troops, while in September, a shootout between a Kosovo policeman and three Serb gunmen resulted in fatalities. Responding to these incidents, NATO has reinforced its peacekeeping presence in Kosovo and is considering deploying additional troops.

Stoltenberg has expressed his concerns about the injuries sustained by NATO troops during clashes with Serb demonstrators and has called for the establishment of facts and prosecution of those responsible. Stoltenberg also urged Serbia and Kosovo to engage in a constructive dialogue mediated by the European Union to normalize the relations between the former foes. However, Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic blamed the tensions on increased pressure by the government in Kosovo towards the ethnic Serb minority. Vucic insisted that only Serbs are under threat in Kosovo. Both Serbia and Kosovo have been warned by EU diplomats that their refusal to compromise jeopardizes their chances of joining the EU.

Serbia has pledged to prosecute the alleged ringleader behind the September shootout in Kosovo, denying allegations of orchestrating the incident. Stoltenberg called for increased cooperation with Serbia and the resumption of joint military training exercises, emphasizing that NATO respects Serbia's decision to remain militarily neutral. Belgrade has maintained friendly relations with Russia and has not joined Western sanctions against Moscow, which has supported its claims on Kosovo. Stoltenberg's visit to the Western Balkans highlights the importance given by NATO and the international community to maintaining stability in the region and resolving conflicts through dialogue and justice.