Tensions High as British Troops Patrol Kosovo-Serbia Border and Kosovo Serbs Vote in Serbian Elections
British troops are patrolling the Kosovo-Serbia border as part of a NATO peacekeeping presence, which has been reinforced due to concerns of escalating tensions between the two countries. Recent violent incidents, including a battle between authorities and armed Serbs, have raised fears of a return to open conflict. NATO has sent additional forces to the region, bringing the total number of peacekeepers to 4,500 from 27 countries. British soldiers are conducting routine patrols to prevent the entry of weapons or armed groups into Kosovo. NATO is reviewing the need for a more permanent increase in forces to prevent further violence in the region.