KFOR rotation: US deploys new units to Kosovo to replace National Guard

Soldiers from the US Army’s 2nd Cavalry Regiment and support units from its 1st Infantry Division will be deployed to Kosovo. They will serve as part of KFOR, the NATO mission.

The US Army announced that these forces will take over from the Florida National Guard’s 53rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team. The rotation also includes the replacement of the Colorado National Guard’s 2nd Battalion, 135th Aviation Regiment, by elements of the 1st Infantry Division’s Combat Aviation Brigade.

The new deployment follows a review of the KFOR mission by Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE), aimed at optimizing the organization and presence of NATO forces in Kosovo.

The announcement links the adjustment of the mission’s structure to improvements in the security situation. It says this supports a gradual process, guided by developments on the ground, to ensure KFOR remains ready to carry out its duties.

At the same time, European allies will assume primary responsibility, in line with the transition toward the NATO 3.0 concept.

For US forces, this rotation brings a different approach to their deployment in Kosovo: National Guard units will give way to forces drawn from military formations in the theater of operations. Support for KFOR, meanwhile, will continue without interruption.

The incoming commander of Regional Command East, Colonel Jabari M. Miller, expressed the readiness of the 1st Infantry Division and the 2nd Cavalry Regiment to assume responsibility for this important mission.

Miller said his soldiers have the necessary preparation, motivation, discipline and training, and are ready to work with NATO allies and partners to maintain a safe and stable environment in Kosovo.

Expressing thanks for the service of the 53rd Infantry Brigade, he reaffirmed the commitment to continued US support for KFOR.

As the 53rd Infantry Brigade’s rotation nears its end, Colonel Samuel Sargent described serving in Kosovo alongside NATO allies and partners as an honor for American soldiers.

Sargent said the 53rd Infantry Brigade is proud of the dedication and professionalism its troops demonstrated during the mission. He also expressed confidence that the incoming unit would further strengthen KFOR’s efforts to ensure a safe and stable environment for every community.

The United States reaffirmed its commitment to peace and stability in the Western Balkans, stressing that close cooperation with NATO and other partners would continue throughout this transition.

KFOR continues to operate in accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244. The mission aims to maintain a safe environment and guarantee freedom of movement for all communities in Kosovo.