Published: 10:52 AM, 23 September 2026
Balkan Countries Agree to Widen Military Cooperation
Balkan countries are moving toward wider military cooperation as governments across Southeast Europe seek to strengthen defence capabilities, improve coordination and respond to a changing security environment. The renewed emphasis on military collaboration comes amid concerns over hybrid threats, emerging technologies and instability in the wider European neighbourhood.
A significant recent development has been the closer defence partnership among Albania, Croatia and Kosovo. The three countries signed a joint declaration on defence cooperation in March 2025, committing themselves to strengthening defence capabilities, developing defence industries and technology, and improving military interoperability through training and exercises.
The cooperation has continued to expand. In February 2026, the chiefs of defence of Albania and Croatia and the commander of the Kosovo Security Force met in Shkodër to discuss practical mechanisms for joint training, coordination and operational readiness. They agreed to continue cooperation through concrete trilateral military exercises during 2026 and beyond.
Military cooperation in the Balkans is not limited to the three countries. The annual Balkan Countries Chiefs of Defence Conference brings together senior military officials from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Greece, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Türkiye, Croatia and Slovenia. At the 2025 conference in Istanbul, participants discussed strengthening peace, security and military cooperation, with particular attention to uncrewed systems, artificial intelligence and future battlefield technologies.
The changing nature of security threats is encouraging countries to place greater emphasis on interoperability. Modern conflicts increasingly involve drones, cyberattacks, disinformation and other forms of hybrid warfare alongside conventional military capabilities. Cooperation can allow neighbouring countries to exchange experience, conduct joint exercises and develop compatible systems.
NATO has also stressed the importance of regional military cooperation. At the 2025 Balkan defence chiefs' conference.
the chair of the NATO Military Committee said that dialogue on military doctrine, tactics and procurement could help countries avoid duplication and improve interoperability.
However, increased military cooperation also has political sensitivities in a region with a complicated history. Relations between Serbia and Kosovo remain particularly contentious. Serbia has strongly criticized the defence cooperation involving Albania, Croatia and Kosovo, arguing that it could create security risks. Belgrade has also objected to efforts to deepen the role and capabilities of the Kosovo Security Force.
The development has therefore produced differing interpretations. Supporters of greater cooperation describe it as a means of improving preparedness and regional security, while Serbian officials have portrayed the Albania-Croatia-Kosovo arrangement as a potential threat. These competing positions reflect the continuing political divisions surrounding Kosovo and the broader security architecture of the Western Balkans.
At the same time, NATO and the European Union continue to maintain significant security roles in the region. NATO's Kosovo Force, known as KFOR, operates in Kosovo under a UN mandate, while the EU's EUFOR Althea mission contributes to maintaining a safe and secure environment in Bosnia and Herzegovina. NATO and EU officials have emphasized that cooperation between the two organizations remains important for regional stability.
The European Union has also sought closer security and defence cooperation with Western Balkan countries. In May 2026, EU foreign ministers endorsed deeper cooperation with Western Balkan partners on foreign, security and defence matters. The EU said it would increase support against hybrid threats and disinformation and expand the use of the European Peace Facility to strengthen partners' defence capabilities.
For the Balkan states, military cooperation can provide practical benefits beyond traditional defence. Joint exercises can improve the ability of armed forces to work together during natural disasters, humanitarian emergencies and peacekeeping missions. Shared training and technological development may also help smaller countries make more efficient use of limited defence resources.
The expansion of cooperation nevertheless raises the importance of transparency and dialogue. In a region where historical conflicts and unresolved political disputes continue to influence security perceptions, new defence arrangements can be interpreted differently by neighbouring governments.
The coming years will show whether increased military cooperation becomes a broader mechanism for confidence-building and regional coordination or contributes to further divisions. For the Balkans, maintaining communication among neighbouring states will remain essential as governments seek to modernize their armed forces while preserving peace and stability in Southeast Europe.
