Change of duty in KFOR: Türkiye handed over NATO command to Italy

Kosovo President Justina Shiroka Pula, Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti, Chief of General Staff General Selçuk Bayraktaroğlu, Italian Minister of Defense Guido Crosetto, NATO Naples Joint Force Commander Admiral George M. Wikoff and many guests attended the handover ceremony held at KFOR's headquarters in the capital Pristina.

At the ceremony, which started with the reading of the National Anthem and the Italian national anthem, the command post of KFOR was transferred from Major General Özkan Ulutaş to Italian Major General Roberto Vergori.

In his speech at the ceremony, President Shiroka Pula thanked Ulutaş, whose term of office ended, for his contributions.

Stating that they aim to advance Kosovo's process towards NATO membership, Shiroka Pula said, "Our strategic goal regarding NATO membership is clear. We aim for Kosovo to one day be a country that not only benefits from security, but also directly contributes to security."

Shiroka Pula noted that the existence of KFOR, its mandate and cooperation with local institutions contribute to the general security of the country and the trust of citizens.

Major General Ulutaş also stated that he was honored to take command of the longest and currently largest mission in NATO history.

'KFOR PROVIDES A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR DIALOGUE'

Stating that all people living in Kosovo have a common hope for a peaceful and prosperous future despite their differences, Ulutaş said, "KFOR played a role in this issue by providing a safe environment for the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, facilitated by the European Union (EU)."

Ulutaş stated that the dialogue creates a framework for addressing outstanding issues and developing permanent solutions that respect the rights of everyone living in Kosovo.

Admiral Wikoff also emphasized that soldiers from more than 30 countries, who have been serving within KFOR for more than 27 years, contribute to the security of all communities in Kosovo.

TURKISH MILITARY HAS BEEN WITHIN KFOR SINCE 1999

Türkiye took over the command of KFOR for the first time in the 2023-2024 period, and Major General Ulutaş served as KFOR commander at that time. Ulutaş's second duty as KFOR commander began on October 3, 2025.

More than 4,500 international military personnel from 31 NATO member and non-NATO countries serve in KFOR, which started its duty in Kosovo on June 12, 1999, in accordance with the decision of the United Nations Security Council to ensure security and stability.

Turkish soldiers have been serving within KFOR in Kosovo since 1999.