The UK Defense Ministry has announced that 200 additional troops from the 1st Battalion of the Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment will deploy to Kosovo to bolster the NATO peacekeeping force. This reinforcement was requested due to significant Serbian armor and infantry movement towards the Kosov border after last week’s killings in Banjske. The announcement from the UK Defense Ministry reads below:
”Following a request from Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) and approval by the North Atlantic Council, the UK will deploy around 200 soldiers from 1st Battalion of the Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment in the coming days to join the 400-strong British contingent already in country as part of an annual exercise. The British Army unit has been assigned to the NATO Commander of the Kosovo Force following a specific request from the Supreme Allied Commander Europe, “SACEUR”, US General Chris Cavoli. This deployment is testament to the leadership and agility of UK defence, this deployment will provide strength and expertise to NATO, as part of our pivotal and unwavering commitment to the alliance.”
The troops will increase what the UK already contributes: two intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) units and staff officers to the mission Headquarters. These units are required to be ready for combat within 14 days. These units were just extended to the mission through 2026.
The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment (or PWRR, also known as ‘The Tigers’) is the senior English line infantry regiment of the British Army, second in the line infantry order of precedence to the Royal Regiment of Scotland and part of the Queen’s Division. It’s members have some of the most significant combat experience of the UK military including key battles in Iraq and Afghanistan such as the Battle of Danny Boy, Operation Diesel, and the Battle of the CIMIC House.
