Serbia has expressed concern over the increased military cooperation between Kosovo, Albania and Croatia, which was formalized in a declaration signed in Tirana on March 18. The defense ministers of the three countries stressed the importance of strengthening their defense capabilities and combating common security challenges. The agreement outlines cooperation in areas such as hybrid threats, defense industry cooperation and military interoperability through joint training and exercises.
Furthermore, the declaration emphasizes support for Euro-Atlantic integration.
Serbia has reacted sharply, with the Foreign Ministry calling the military alliance a provocation. Serbian officials have demanded urgent clarifications from Croatia and Albania about the agreement's aims, especially since Kosovo, which Serbia does not recognize as an independent state, is a party to the agreement. Serbia sees the alliance as a threat to regional stability and a direct challenge to its territorial integrity, especially since the cooperation includes Kosovo, whose independence Serbia rejects.
Outgoing Serbian Prime Minister Miloš Vučević raised the possibility that Bulgaria could eventually join this military alliance, suggesting that such a move would pose further risks for Serbia. He noted that the countries involved—Croatia, Albania, and Bulgaria—are all Serbia's neighbors, and he questioned the true intentions behind this new military arrangement. Vučević also expressed concern that the alliance could destabilize the region, especially with its possible expansion to include Bulgaria.
The Serbian ministry's response reflected a growing concern about the developing dynamics in the Balkans, where tensions remain high due to the unresolved status of Kosovo.
Despite Serbia's military neutrality, the government has shown that it is willing to cooperate with neighboring countries, including Croatia and Albania, if this is done in a way that respects Serbia's territorial integrity and sovereignty.
However, Kosovo's inclusion in the trilateral agreement has made this cooperation impossible, and Serbia remains convinced that it will not tolerate any action that threatens its position in the region.
(BalkanWeb)
