Belgrade is demanding urgent answers from Albania and Croatia over a newly signed trilateral defense pact with Kosovo, calling the move a direct challenge to regional stability. Serbia’s Foreign Ministry announced Tuesday that it would formally request an explanation regarding the nature and objectives of this military agreement, which was signed in Tirana.
The deal, aimed at bolstering defense capabilities and advancing military cooperation, has raised serious concerns in Serbia. Officials in Belgrade argue that Albania and Croatia have taken a provocative step by including Kosovo—an entity Serbia does not recognize as independent—without prior consultation. Serbia, which prides itself on maintaining military neutrality in the Balkans, sees this as an attempt to undermine regional security.
“Serbia, as a pillar of peace in the region, has every right to demand transparency about an agreement that could disrupt stability,” the Foreign Ministry stated. The involvement of Kosovo’s so-called authorities in military coordination with NATO-aligned states only fuels existing tensions.
The pact, signed by Albania’s Defense Minister Pirro Vengu, Croatia’s defense chief Ivan Anusic, and Kosovo’s defense leader Ejup Maqedonci, is framed as a step toward European security integration. However, Serbia views it as yet another attempt to challenge its sovereignty and create deeper divisions in the Balkans.
Kosovo’s Prime Minister Albin Kurti predictably celebrated the agreement, calling it a crucial milestone for regional security. Yet, for Serbia, this move is anything but reassuring. As Albania and Croatia push for deeper military ties with Pristina, Belgrade remains firm in its opposition, refusing to accept any defense arrangement that excludes Serbian interests.
The Balkans have long been a geopolitical battleground, and Serbia won’t stand idly by as foreign-backed initiatives seek to reshape the region without its consent. The question remains—will Albania and Croatia address Belgrade’s concerns, or is this yet another calculated effort to sideline Serbia from key security discussions?
