New military alliances in the Western Balkans – The World

State media in Serbia were unanimous in the praise of the agreement on military cooperation between Serbia and Hungary: « Bomb shaking the region, » Tabloid Informer wrote. The Kurir Vladino, « the historical moment. » News talk about « New Evidence of Iron Friendship », and the Portal Republic claims that « Croats and Albanians in Panica due to the Serbian-Hungarian Military Federation ».

Whether it’s newspaper, TV stations or internet portals, all media under the strict state control of the military union in Belgrade signed the Ministers of Hungary Kristof Salaj-Bobrovnicki and Serbia Bratislav Gašić. A few days later, the President of the Republika Srpska Milorad Dodik, announced the entry of that entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the « new military alliance ».

Serbian media from both sides Drina New « Military Pact » presented the Reaction to the recently agreed military alliance between NATO partners of Croatia and Albania, as well as Kosovo, whose independence from Serbia, Belgrade or more than a decade and later he did not recognize.

« What particularly worry about » is that « that military alliance is formed without consulting Belgrade, » the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Serbia has been criticized. It added that the goal of the agreement is the isolation of Serbia and the creation of « paramilitary structures » in Kosovo, as well as that it represents « rough provocation ».

Military Agreement of Zagreb, Tirana and Pristina

So what does the agreement in Zagreb, Tirana and Pristina actually envisage? Agreement 18. Marta 2025. In Tirana signed the defense ministers of Croatia, Albania and Kosovo envisages cooperation within the Strategic Concept of NATO and the Security Policy of the European Union. Strengthen cooperation between weapons and training of soldiers and officers. And joint military exercises are planned.

Within the Euro-Atlantic integration, one of the focuses is on measures for combating cyber attacks and campaigns of misinformation. Although Serbia claims that it is endangered by this new military union, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković assures: « This Memorandum of Cooperation has no hostile character. »

However, the decidial national rivalry and animosities between Serbia and Croatia encouraged that trilateral agreement. The Croatian Defense Minister Ivan Anusic also figured himself: « The times Croatia had to ask Belgrade, and how she should act. That will never happen again. That will never happen again. That will never happen again. It will never happen again.

The Zagreb Jutarnji list claimed that the Almighty President of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić was experiencing a nervous breakdown due to that agreement. That is why the glavious titles of the Serbian press were quite logical: « Croatia and Albania received an express answer: Hungary and Serbia signed the military alliance. »

What did Belgrade and Budapest agreed?

However, if the « military alliance » of Belgrade and Budapest, which is presented as historical, is seen, is seen as a political spin media scene controlled by Vučić. « It is in line with other Vučić’s marketing tricks, » said opposition politician Petar Bošković for today, a Belgrade newspaper critical to the Government in Belgrade.

A military expert from Serbia Aleksandar Radić explained at several portals, which is actually a word in alleged military alliance: « There are no elements of military alliance, » his analysis reads. The pompous announced agreement only contains concrete projects of military cooperation, which are agreed annually based on the Framework Agreement from 2023. Sam Vučić returned: « The goal is Military Alliance », which is just now a set exchange rate.

Increased risk of war in the Western Balkans?

However, regardless of the agreed military cooperation, and as vague as she was, in the Western Balkan region, drastic arming was noticeable in the year. Croatia, for example, who has already introduced a military service, bought from the French combat airplane Rafal and negotiates the delivery of Tank Leopard. Serbia also concluded a contract with Paris on the purchase of the same type of multipurpose combat aircraft, and procures weapons from Russia and China. « In the Balkans, it is still short, » the title of the report of the German Bundesware Union on the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina was published last January. So how much is the situation actually explosive?

Although the motto of the Sarajevo Portal is still valid: « The enemy of my enemy is my friend », if you look more deeply with a deeper balance of power, it shows that the war in a near future is unlikely. At the beginning of April, the Secretary General of NATO Mark routes said there was no need to put the situation in that region to the agenda of the NATO foreign ministers in Brussels. Before a good year, his predecessor Jens Stoltenberg also assured no direct military threat.

« There are little chances of breaking the real war, » Vuk Vukasanovic from the Belgrade Center for Security Policy is also safe. Despite re-arming, Vuksanovic believes, those countries would not have enough resources for conflict, and above all – local elites would have to fear for their positions in case of war.

NATO has control

In addition, NATO is strongly present in the region. In addition to Kosovo, members of the Alliance are all countries with neighbors of Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The United States is governed by a large military base Bondstil in Kosovo. Romanian Air Base Mihail Korelničan near Constance Currently, at least two and a half billions of euros, it will expand, in order to become the largest basis of NATO in Europe and that 10,000 soldiers would be stationed in it. In the port of Durres on the Adriatic coast of Albania, a large maritime base has long been planned. An increase war against that military force would be a straight harciria.