In April, the 50th contingent of Austrian soldiers is deployed to the KFOR mission in Kosovo. Austria has been involved in this mission since 1999. Colonel Bernhard Gruber has been appointed commander of the new contingent and will lead around 190 soldiers.
“Austria is committed to actively participating in crisis management and securing peace through international peacekeeping operations in order to meet the new challenges of the 21st century,” said Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner. “Solving the current security problems requires close cooperation at European and international level. In addition to the primary responsibility for national military defense, participation in international peacekeeping missions has become an important task for the Armed Forces a high priority. The Austrian soldiers have always proven to be reliable partners in Kosovo, and I am pleased that this course is being consistently continued with the rotation of the 50th contingent.”
Austrian Armed Forces in Kosovo
The Austrian Armed Forces have been deployed in Kosovo since July 2, 1999. The basis for this is the mandate of UN Resolution 1244 from 1999 and the decision of the Federal Government. The deployment of peacekeepers in Kosovo takes place under the direction of NATO, which divides Kosovo into areas of responsibility. Each of these areas is assigned to a so-called “lead nation”. The Austrian soldiers of the “Austrian Contingent/Kosovo Force” (AUTCON/KFOR) are deployed throughout Kosovo. The main task of the Kosovo Force (KFOR) is to ensure a secure environment and freedom of movement for all communities in Kosovo. The Austrian Armed Forces contribute to the maintenance of public order and security, support international organizations and assist in the reconstruction of the region.
Time and again there are riots in the operational area, as in May 2023, where there were serious riots in the Zvecan area with exchanges of fire and hand grenades thrown, resulting in around 60 KFOR soldiers (no Austrians) being injured, some of them seriously.
Austrian Armed Forces abroad
More than 1,500 soldiers are currently deployed at home and abroad (-> Current news from Austrian deployments abroad) – including almost 700 soldiers in 17 missions in the service of peace. Austria’s three major missions abroad are under the leadership of the European Union in Bosnia and Herzegovina, under NATO leadership in the Kosovo mission and in the UN Blue Helmet mission in Lebanon.
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