Kosovo, Albania and Croatia signed a trilateral defense agreement on March 18 in Tirana, Albania, essentially creating a military defense alliance. The Declaration was signed by the respective defense ministers: Ejup Macedonci, Pirro Vengu and Ivan Anušić. The document regulates defense cooperation, joint military operations and joint training. In fact, the announced goal of the memorandum is to strengthen cooperation in defense capacity building and in the defense industry, increase interoperability through education, training and exercises, counter hybrid threats and strengthen strategic resilience, providing full support to the integration of Euro-Atlantic and regional defense.
Albanian Defense Minister Pirro Vengu said that other countries are also interested in joining the alliance. A similar view was expressed by his Croatian counterpart Ivan Anusic who, following the signing of the Declaration on the Military Alliance between Croatia, Albania and Kosovo, emphasized that cooperation will focus primarily on the intelligence system and the development of the defense industry and that there is a possibility of Bulgaria joining the trilateral military alliance. He also stressed that the goal of this alliance is to strengthen regional stability and improve interoperability between the armed forces. Their Kosovar counterpart Macedonci also believes that the purpose of this cooperation is not to threaten anyone, but to send a message to those who intend to endanger the region, to show that they are united and will not allow anyone to destabilize it, thanking his two colleagues for this initiative and appreciating the fact that this agreement is the first trilateral in the region.
On the Albanian side, an opinion was also given by retired general Esad Colaku who said that this is a clear signal to Serbia and other states that may have territorial claims in the Balkans. From Kosovo, Prime Minister Albin Kurti called this achievement an extremely important step for security and congratulated all those who signed it.
The reactions in Belgrade were not long in coming. The Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in reference to the Kosovo-Albania-Croatia alliance said that it is an open provocation, a deliberate strategy aimed at isolating Serbia and they ask Albania and Croatia to explain why the agreement was concluded without consulting Serbia. In fact, it was announced that the Ministry was sending an urgent request to the Croatian and Albanian Foreign Ministries for a detailed explanation of these measures that undermine, for Serbia, regional stability. They stress that they will not ignore the obvious political message of this initiative and that it is not the result of casual cooperation, but of a targeted strategy aimed at isolating Serbia, arguing that it is in conflict with international law and UN Security Council Resolution 1244 concerning Kosovo, which is considered a southern Serbian province, as it is not recognized as an independent state. They say that it is extremely significant that two countries neighboring Serbia decided to initiate this agreement and that the invitation to join was also extended to the third neighbor, Bulgaria, adding that Serbia, despite its military neutrality, is active in the fight against terrorism and all modern security threats and was ready to consider good faith cooperation with Croatia and Albania. However, the statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs concludes by reiterating Serbia’s position that it will not allow any unilateral action that could jeopardize its territorial integrity, security of citizens and peace in the region.
Outgoing Serbian Prime Minister Miloš Vučević asked the question, asking against whom this alliance is directed and what is the interest of two NATO members in entering into military cooperation with Kosovo called “unrecognized institutions that were formed illegally on a part of Serbian territory” and why another NATO member should now join such an alliance referring to Bulgaria. Another member of the now technical government, Minister of Labour, Employment, Veterans and Social Affairs Nemanja Starović, said that the signing of the cooperation agreement is another reckless move, in his opinion, to increase tensions in the Balkans. President Aleksandar Vučić also intervened on the issue, saying that he understood the message conveyed by the signing concluded in Tirana, although he expressed his great concern about this behavior, stating that Serbia has its own doctrine with which it will be able to maintain stability and defend itself from any potential aggressor, also emphasizing that Croatia is a very powerful country from a military point of view, but also that for the first time Serbia has a stronger army.
Security expert Gurakuc Kuci believes that the agreement between Kosovo, Albania and Croatia on strengthening military cooperation was reached in coordination with NATO and that Kosovo, through Albania and Croatia, is given the opportunity to get as close as possible to the North Atlantic Alliance. In fact, the tripartite agreement must be placed in the current geopolitical context of the Balkans, with winds of crisis in Serbia for months due to the massive and constant student demonstrations that are increasingly numerous and paralyzing the country, but above all due to the very delicate situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in particular in the entity of Republika Srpska, where the arrest warrants issued for three of its highest officials, for actions that undermine the constitutional order, starting with the President of RS Milorad Dodik, are throwing the country into a growing and deep internal division and an institutional crisis. Serbian President Vucic himself reiterated that what is happening in BiH is a big problem, hoping to reduce tensions but showing his full support for Dodik and warning that the arrest would represent a total disaster.
Paolo Romano
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