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Serbia signs strategic defense cooperation agreement with Hungary, Vučić believes in creating a military alliance
2025-04-01 16:41:26 / BOTA
Serbia and Hungary signed a document in Belgrade on Tuesday that concretizes the agreement on strategic cooperation in the field of defense reached in 2023.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić stated that he believes that this agreement will be followed by a further rapprochement towards the creation of a military alliance between Serbia and Hungary.
"This is decided by the Hungarian side, decided by the parliaments of Hungary and Serbia. Our relations are more than good, and Prime Minister Viktor Orban and I have expressed our desire to continue accelerating and further approximating our positions in the field of defense," Vučić said after the signing.
Belgrade reacted sharply in mid-March to the declaration signed at the time in Tirana by Albania, Croatia and Kosovo, which the participants described as a document aimed at strengthening cooperation to face security challenges that could endanger regional stability. On the other hand, Serbia called it a provocation and a threat to stability.
The new document between Serbia and Hungary was signed by the defense ministers, Bratislav Gašić and Kristof Szalay-Bobrovniczky.
As announced, Belgrade and Budapest have agreed on 79 joint activities in the field of defense through 2025, including joint training, helicopter exercises and other activities, cooperation in the defense industry, cybersecurity, peacekeeping operations, education and military medicine.
"Hungary is always on the side of preserving peace and Serbia is always an ally in this regard," said Hungarian Defense Minister Kristof Szalay-Bobrovniczky.
Vučić did not provide further details about the idea of a Serbian-Hungarian military alliance.
Neither the Hungarian nor the Serbian side have spoken on this topic, and after the signing of the agreement, no questions were allowed from journalists.
Vučić said that Belgrade, after purchasing BTR-80A armored personnel carriers from Budapest last year, is interested in purchasing other systems left in Hungary from the Soviet period, as well as in purchasing new Lynx KF-51 combat vehicles, which Hungary produces in cooperation with the German company Rheinmetall.
He added that Hungary buys 7.62 mm caliber ammunition from Serbia and is interested in 8×8 combat vehicles produced in Serbia.
"A lot of joint work awaits us in the military field. Everything we do will mean more security for the citizens of both countries," Vučić said.
The Serbian president added that he expects to meet with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban soon.
During the signing ceremony of the document in the field of defense, it was also said that trade exchange between Serbia and Hungary has exceeded 3 billion euros and that Hungary is Serbia's fifth largest economic partner.
Serbia has been a member of NATO's Partnership for Peace Program since December 2006. At the end of 2007, it declared military neutrality through a parliamentary resolution to protect sovereignty, territorial integrity, and constitutional order.
Over the past ten years, Serbia has held dozens of military exercises with NATO member states, including the United States of America, but also with the Russian Federation and Belarus.
After Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Serbia has not participated in military exercises with either the East or the West.
The exception occurred in 2023, when for 15 days it held the "Platinum Wolf" exercise on its territory with the US and other NATO member countries at the "Jug" military base./ REL
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