Serbian MFA: Bilateral military agreements in the region contribute to rising tensions and deepening divisions

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia stated that it is following with concern the statements and announcements of certain officials in the region regarding the signing and expansion of bilateral agreements on military cooperation between neighboring states.

“Serbia recalls that the entire Balkans remain a sensitive post-conflict area, where the preservation of peace and stability is of essential importance, both for the countries of the region and for Europe as a whole. For this reason, every insufficiently transparent move that can be interpreted as the creation of military blocs or alliances directed against third parties contributes to rising tensions and deepening divisions, instead of building trust and improving cooperation,” the statement said.

The Ministry particularly emphasized that the lack of transparency and the absence of the usual consultations regarding such agreements create room for suspicion and foster an atmosphere of mistrust, which, it noted, runs contrary to European values of dialogue, predictability, and mutual respect.

“We also recall that some of the states entering into these arrangements are already NATO members, and their security is fully guaranteed by existing collective mechanisms. Therefore, the question arises about the real motives and objectives of these bilateral agreements, which lack clear military justification but carry strong political symbolism and send negative messages in the region. We also fail to understand the reasons for excluding certain states from such forms of cooperation,” the MFA pointed out.

The statement further adds that the Republic of Serbia believes the right path to strengthening trust and cooperation in the region lies in investing in mechanisms of joint training, civil protection, and coordinated responses to emergencies such as floods, fires, and earthquakes. It stressed that this would bring concrete and lasting benefits to the citizens of all countries.

“The Republic of Serbia remains firmly committed to peace, stability, and cooperation in the region and expects all partners to act responsibly in that spirit, with due regard for the legitimate interests of all sides,” the statement concluded.