Thewesternbalkans.
According to different media, on 19 March 2025 — Albania, Croatia, and Kosovo have signed a joint declaration aimed at strengthening defence and security cooperation. The agreement, announced last week in Tirana, signals an increased level of military collaboration but stops short of forming a formal military alliance akin to NATO. While specific details of the agreement remain undisclosed, defence ministers from the three countries emphasized their commitment to enhancing military interoperability through joint education, training, and exercises. Additionally, the trilateral initiative will focus on countering hybrid threats and coordinating policies to facilitate Euro-Atlantic integration.
According to some researchers, the Agreement is marking a significant geopolitical development in the Western Balkans.
A NATO official told Radio Free Europe that the alliance is aware of the agreement and absolutely correctly refrained from commenting on its specifics, stating that it is up to the signatory states to clarify their objectives.
The joint declaration leaves room for potential expansion, with the three countries indicating that additional states may join. While no specific countries have been named, Serbia has suggested that Bulgaria could be a potential future member. If the group expands, it could evolve into a regional security mechanism but not necessarily a formal military alliance that mirrors NATO’s structure.
Serbia has strongly opposed the agreement, calling it a provocation and a threat to its national security. The Serbian government summoned the Albanian and Croatian ambassadors for clarification and warned that it would not tolerate unilateral actions that could “jeopardize Serbia’s territorial integrity and regional peace.” Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vučić stated that the agreement violates the 1996 military accords and accused the signatories of escalating tensions in the region.
Kosovo’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora responded by condemning Serbia’s stance, calling it aggressive and a violation of the Brussels Agreement. The ministry accused Serbia of attempting to maintain dominance in the region while obstructing Kosovo’s international partnerships. Moreover, Kosovo pointed to Serbia’s historical role in the conflicts of the 1990s, including ethnic cleansing campaigns and military interventions in Bosnia, Croatia, and Kosovo. Pristina also raised concerns over Serbia’s increasing military and political cooperation with Russia and Iran, arguing that this further destabilizes the region.
Croatian officials dismissed Belgrade’s concerns, asserting that Croatia does not require Serbia’s approval for its military and diplomatic initiatives. Croatian Defence Minister Ivan Anušić took a firm stance, stating, “The time when Croatia had to seek permission from Belgrade is over and will never return.”
Similarly, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković downplayed Serbian accusations, emphasizing that the agreement is neither aggressive nor directed at any country. “We created a document that supports reform efforts. It is not of a hostile nature,” Plenković stated, adding that Croatia, Albania, and Kosovo will continue to strengthen their regional security ties regardless of external opposition.
Comments: For now, the Western Balkans continue to navigate a delicate balance of alliances, with NATO’s future role in the region still uncertain. Whether this new pact will lead to the formation of a more structured defence coalition remains to be seen, but it undoubtedly signals a shift in the regional security landscape.
The reactions are very indicative: Serbia reacted immediately and sharply enough. Kosovo did not fail to note that it was Belgarde that was at the heart of all wars and destabilising actions in the Balkans since 1990. Zagreb reacted also very strongly, but with a sound of complexes built during the Yugoslavian time. NATO is informed, but does not want to comment. Bulgaria has not yet been invited and currently seems not to be interested in this alliance.
In short, these actions of the three countries certainly do not contribute to the calm and trust of the Balkans. Especially against the backdrop of the escalating confrontation in geopolitical terms. Despite Belgrade’s attempts to balance its relations with East and West.
The question of who needs such an alliance in the Balkans remains open, since two of the participants are NATO member states and should not have problems with their security. The question also remains whether this new alliance is not just a pilot project for something larger, including countries to the east on NATO’s eastern border.
