Kosovo, Albania, and Croatia are implementing their March defense declaration, aimed at regional security and NATO integration. The defense ministers’ expert groups finalized plans in July in Tirana, which will be presented in September. A key commitment is joint weapons procurement, pooling demand to avoid fragmented buying. The states also agreed to expand joint exercises, academy training, and enlisted recruitment programs, alongside cooperation against hybrid threats like cyberattacks, disinformation, and foreign influence. NATO and the US support the initiative, with Kosovo planning to seek additional partners at Adriatic regional forums. While the agreement enhances defense collaboration, Serbia strongly opposes it, warning it risks creating a new military bloc in the Balkans. The Croatian MoD clarified this is not a military alliance, but open cooperation for EU/NATO members interested in regional stability.
