Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić has issued a new threat to Kosovo, warning of the possibility of changing the course of the Ibar River. His statement comes at a time of heightened tensions between Belgrade and Pristina and is presented as a reaction to the policies of the Kosovo authorities towards the Serb community.

According to Serbian media, Vučić said that experts and engineers have already been involved to examine the possibility of interfering with the river's flow.

"I have to inform you, we have already invited experts who deal with this, the construction sector, engineers and everyone else. They are mistreating our people so much. Let's see what the Albanians will do and how they will behave after this action," the Serbian president said.

Vučić did not say what kind of intervention was being considered or whether such a plan would be implemented. However, the statement raised questions about the consequences that an intervention in one of the main water sources connected to Kosovo could have.

According to Vučić, since 1985 "there has been an idea to change the flow" of the Ibar River for the needs of the population in the towns near the lake, which would consequently dry up the Ujman River, which supplies Kosovo. According to him, this could happen with a decision of the Serbian Government. 

"We have already invited experts who deal with this issue, the construction sector, engineers and others. Since they are mistreating our people so much, let's see, we have different reasons for changing the course of the Ibar, and then we will see what the Albanians will do and how they will behave," Vučić declared to journalists on Sunday during a visit to the works on the Old Railway Bridge in Belgrade.

The Iber River has strategic importance for Kosovo, while Lake Ujman, created by the dam on this river, is one of the main sources of water supply for areas of Kosovo and is also linked to the production of electricity.

An intervention in the river's flow could have consequences for water supply and the functioning of energy infrastructure, turning the issue from a political clash into a problem with direct humanitarian and economic potential.