Serbia dismisses ambassador to Croatia following regional defense pact tensions

By Talha Ozturk

SARAJEVO, Bosnia Herzegovina (AA) - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic dismissed Jelena Milic from her post as ambassador to Croatia, according to the Official Gazette published Tuesday.

While the announcement confirmed that Milic’s dismissal is effective immediately, no official explanation was provided on the reasons for the decision.

The move comes amid heightened tensions between Belgrade and Zagreb following the recent signing of a defense cooperation declaration between Croatia, Albania and Kosovo. The agreement was formalized March 18 in Tirana, with the participation of Croatian Defense Minister Ivan Anusic, Albanian Defense Minister Pirro Vengu, and Kosovo’s Defense Minister Ejup Maqedonci.

Vucic criticized the declaration and suggested it could trigger an arms race in the region. “We got the message. We will do our best to defend our country,” he said in response to the trilateral pact.

Croatia defended the agreement, asserting its sovereign right to cooperate with any country of its choosing.

The dismissal of Milic adds another layer to the strained relations between Serbia and Croatia, which have long been marked by historical disputes and political friction in the Western Balkans.