NATO has cautioned Kosovo against taking “destabilizing steps” after clashes erupted between Kosovan police and ethnic Serbs who attempted to block newly-elected Albanian mayors from entering municipal buildings. NATO Chief Jens Stoltenberg appealed to Kosovo’s capital, Pristina, to “de-escalate” and not take unilateral and destabilizing actions. He further urged Kosovo and Serbia to participate in EU-led discussions to achieve peace and assured that NATO would continue to ensure a safe and secure environment. Footage circulating on social media showed NATO-led troops in northern Kosovo near municipal buildings. Former US envoy for Serbia and Kosovo Peace Negotiations, Richard Grenell, criticized the move and posted on Twitter, “NATO troops have taken over buildings in Kosovo. American troops and American money. We went from peace and progress under Trump to chaos and troop occupation under Biden. Biden is so weak.” Many people, including police officers, were injured in the clashes, and cars were set ablaze. The situation arose as ethnic Serbs boycotted last month’s snap elections in which only Albanian or smaller minority representatives were elected. Kosovo’s Prime Minister Albin Kurti defended the use of force to access municipal buildings while U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken fiercely criticized Kosovo’s government. He asked Kurti to back down and urged both sides to refrain from further actions that could inflame tensions and promote conflict. Serbia has put its combat readiness at the “highest state of alert” to protect ethnic Serbs, but any attempt to send troops over the border could lead to a clash with NATO troops stationed there. The United States has been Kosovo’s major supporter politically, militarily, and financially since it declared independence from Serbia in 2008.