Kosovo, Albania and Croatia signed a trilateral declaration on military alliance on March 18, aiming to bolster their defence capabilities, enhance cooperation in the defence industry and improve military interoperability through joint education, training and exercises.

The agreement seeks to foster closer collaboration between the three countries in facing common challenges in the field of defence and security.

It was signed in Tirana by the three countries' defence ministers, reaffirming their commitment to regional security and stability.

Kosovo’s Defence Minister Ejup Maqedonci highlighted the significance of the pact, stating: “Albania, Croatia and Kosovo will be even stronger together in the face of common challenges and goals in the field of defence and security. This is because today in Tirana, we signed a trilateral declaration, together with my two counterparts and friends, Pirro Vengu, Minister of Defence of Albania, and Ivan Anušić, Minister of Defence of Croatia.”

The declaration underlines the three nations' shared values, geostrategic orientations and commitments to regional cooperation. It asserts their dedication to strengthening defence ties, protecting their territories and citizens, contributing to international peace and security and enhancing the productivity of their defence industries.

Key commitments under the agreement include strengthening military ties between the three nations, increasing interoperability between their armed forces through joint training and exercises, and enhancing resilience against hybrid threats through strengthened countermeasures.

Coordinating policies for Euro-Atlantic integration, with a particular focus on assisting Kosovo’s integration into regional defence and security initiatives.

The signatories said that this trilateral cooperation stems from a spirit of friendship and commitment to good neighbourly relations, peace, and security. The agreement, they noted, is not intended as a threat to any external party but rather as an additional step towards maintaining regional stability in the Western Balkans.

Maqedonci concluded by stating, “Together with Albania and Croatia, Kosovo is stronger, the region is safer, and peace is more sustainable.”

In a statement issued late on March 18, the Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the military alliance agreement signed in Tirana by the defence ministers of Kosovo, Albania, and Croatia as a "provocation".

The Serbian ministry said that it will urgently request a detailed explanation from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Croatia and Albania regarding the signing of the trilateral memorandum. This agreement is viewed as a step that undermines regional stability, the ministry stated.

"As a country committed to ensuring peace and maintaining military neutrality in the Balkans, Serbia is entitled to demand clarification about the nature and objectives of this security cooperation. It is particularly concerning that this military alliance is being established without prior consultation with Belgrade, involving a body that lacks international legitimacy and poses a security threat to both the Serbian people and the broader region," it said.