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Milosevic, Slobodan

NATO Increases Pressure on Serbia with 45,000-Troop Peacekeeping Force Plan

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Allied forces are pressuring Serbian forces in Kosovo with 778 missions overnight, including 319 bombing runs and 89 attacks on Serbian air defenses. The planned 45,000-strong peacekeeping force, if diplomacy brings a settlement, would be the largest yet. NATO is also intensifying bombing of Serbian military targets, despite concerns about civilian casualties. Russia, a key diplomatic player, remains skeptical about participating in the peacekeeping effort.

Key Takeaways:

  • The planned 45,000-strong peacekeeping force would include troops from NATO countries and other neutral or formerly Communist nations, with 10,000 troops remaining outside Kosovo providing supplies and support.
  • Russia has refused to participate in planning for the peacekeeping force, citing its suspension of formal cooperation with NATO after the bombing started on March 24.
  • The allies have flown 31,529 individual missions in 70 days, including thousands of strikes against Serbian antiaircraft missiles and radar sites.
  • Despite more than two months of bombing, the Serbian military still has 59 percent of its petroleum reserves, with over 40 percent of Yugoslavia's fuel reserves and 63 percent of its oil storage plants remaining untouched.
  • The required approval for the larger force will be obtained from participating countries' parliaments after allied commanders review the offers.
  • Britain has alerted up to 12,000 light infantry soldiers to be ready to join the 5,300 troops it already has in Macedonia for a peacekeeping mission in Kosovo.
  • France has offered 6,000 to 7,000 troops, about as many as the United States has said it is willing to offer.

Statistics:

  • 45,000: The planned number of troops for the peacekeeping force if diplomacy brings a settlement.
  • 778: The number of missions against Serbian forces overnight, including 319 bombing runs and 89 attacks on Serbian air defenses.
  • 31,529: The total number of individual missions flown by the allies in 70 days.
  • 59 percent: The percentage of petroleum reserves remaining to the Serbian military despite two months of bombing.
  • 40 percent: The percentage of Yugoslavia's fuel reserves remaining untouched.
  • 63 percent: The percentage of oil storage plants remaining untouched.
  • 70 days: The duration of the air campaign against Serbian forces.
  • 800,000: The number of ethnic Albanians driven out of Kosovo by Serbian forces.
  • 600,000: The number of ethnic Albanians forced to take to the hills in Kosovo.

Sources:

  • The New York Times: article detailing NATO's plans for a 45,000-strong peacekeeping force in Kosovo.
  • Reuters: report on the number of missions flown by the allies in 70 days.
  • BBC News: article on the planned number of troops for the peacekeeping force and the situation in Kosovo.
  • Agence France-Presse: report on the number of ethnic Albanians driven out of Kosovo by Serbian forces.
  • AP News: article on the planned number of troops for the peacekeeping force and the situation in Kosovo.

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