Serbia accuses Turkey of arming Kosovo, claiming this breaches international law

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić has accused Turkey of destabilising the western Balkans by supplying weapons to Kosovo, describing Ankara’s actions as a violation of international law.

Belgrade argues that Turkish arms sales and military cooperation with Pristina breach UN Security Council Resolution 1244, which restricted arms transfers after the 1998–1999 Kosovo conflict.

Before the conflict, Serbia controlled Kosovo and brutally repressed mostly Muslim ethnic Albanians, who form the vast majority of the region's inhabitants.

NATO forces later intervened and took control of the area in 1999. Kosovo declared independence in 2008 but this has never been recognised by Serbia.

"I am horrified by Turkey’s behaviour and the brutal violation of the UN Charter and UN Security Council Resolution 1244, as well as the continued arming of the Pristina authorities," Vučić wrote on social media.

"It is now completely clear that Turkey does not want stability in the Western Balkans and is once again dreaming of restoring the Ottoman Empire. Serbia is a small country, but we have clearly understood the message," he added.

Ankara, however, has pointed to clauses that permit supplying weapons and equipment to international peacekeeping forces as justification for its support.

Turkey was among the first countries to recognise Kosovo’s 2008 independence and has since become one of its main military partners.

In January 2024, Turkish Defence Minister Yaşar Güler and Kosovo Defence Minister Ejup Maqedonci signed a framework agreement in Ankara covering arms sales, training, and joint exercises.

Vučić’s comments also follow accusations against Albania and Croatia, which signed a joint defence declaration with Kosovo in March, fuelling Belgrade’s warnings of an "arms race" in the region.

Sporadic clashes in northern Kosovo between Serb communities and Kosovo security forces have heightened fears of renewed conflict.

Ankara has yet to respond to Vučić’s remarks. Turkish officials have previously defended their partnership with Pristina as part of efforts to strengthen regional defence capacity within NATO’s orbit.

Pivot to Washington

The row comes as Turkey deepens strategic cooperation with the United States through new liquefied natural gas (LNG) and civil-nuclear agreements.

Last month, state-owned BOTAŞ signed a 20-year contract with a US exporter to supply around four billion cubic metres of LNG annually from 2026.

The deal coincided with a Strategic Civil Nuclear Cooperation Memorandum aimed at boosting civilian nuclear technology and regulatory alignment.

Brigham McCown, director of the Hudson Institute’s Initiative on American Energy Security, said the two pacts "diversify Turkey's energy mix away from unstable suppliers" and reinforce NATO’s southeastern energy flank.

He noted that the nuclear deal supports Turkey's rising demand through "technology sharing, fuel security, and regulatory cooperation," while the flexible LNG terms "help optimise shipments and stabilise prices," covering about 10 percent of demand but delivering what he called an "outsized effect on energy security".