DASH: Kosovo has requested 246 anti-tank missiles worth 75 million dollars

The US Department of State confirmed that Kosovo has made a request to buy Javelin missiles in the amount of 75 million dollars.

It is about 246 missiles of this type, which are produced by the USA, according to an announcement by the US Agency for Security Cooperation.

DASH said that on January 11, the US administration notified Congress of the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program proposal for the sale of Javelin missiles and other related equipment to Kosovo.

"The US Department of State has often decided to approve foreign military sales to the Ministry of Defense of Kosovo, for the use of weapons by the Kosovo Security Forces", DASH said.

The sale of these weapons, according to DASH, supports "US foreign policy and national security objectives by improving Kosovo's security and developing its defense capabilities, interoperable with NATO, without changing the essential military balance in region or without affecting US defense readiness," a DASH spokesperson told Radio Free Europe.

The US, according to DASH, continues to support Kosovo in the "transparent transformation of the Kosovo Security Force into a multi-ethnic force for territorial defense, interoperable with NATO, subject to civilian supervision".

Earlier on January 11, the Ministry of Defense of Kosovo said that the purchase of Javelin missiles is foreseen in the framework of the increase of the military capacities of the Kosovo Security Force (FSK).

"The FSK is raising its military capacities, and, in this respect, there is a military agreement signed between the Republic of Kosovo and the United States of America, which operates within the framework of the FMS program, so that purchases are made through this the program. And, in this aspect, Javelin missiles and some other modern weapons systems are also included", said Liridona Gashi, political adviser to the Minister of Defense, Ejup Maqedonci.

The FMS (Foreign Military Sales) program is a program of the US military to provide security assistance and is an "essential tool of US foreign policy", according to the website of the US Agency for Security Cooperation. Under this program, the US government and a foreign government can reach an intergovernmental agreement, called a Letter of Offer and Acceptance.

The news about Kosovo's intention to buy Javelin missiles has been described as a "big disappointment" by the Serbian president, Aleksandar Vučić.

Kosovo has also in the past bought or received weapons from the United States as a donation.