Serbia, Hungary deepen military cooperation with new defense pact

​​​​​​​By Talha Ozturk

BELGRADE, Serbia (AA) - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic described a new defense agreement Tuesday to strengthen a growing military partnership with Hungary as the most advanced and intensive in the region.

“This is a continuation of our strategic cooperation in defense, one of the most important areas of our overall relationship,” said Vucic, adding that Hungary is Serbia’s closest partner in terms of military cooperation.

The agreement, signed in Belgrade by Serbian Defense Minister Bratislav Gasic and Hungarian Defense Minister Kristof Szalay-Bobrovniczky, following meetings at the presidential palace, builds on a 2023 deal and formalizes plans for joint training, exercises, weapons procurement and increased defense industry collaboration.

“We have agreed on 79 joint defense activities for this year, compared to 48 in 2023,” said Vucic. “This shows how strong and deep our cooperation is becoming.”

Vucic noted that the cooperation covers cyber security, peacekeeping, helicopter training and military medicine. He praised Hungary’s infrastructure and said both countries would use each other’s training centers, including for sniper units and armored vehicle drills.

Serbia recently purchased BTR transporters from Hungary, while Hungary is buying Serbian-made ammunition. Vucic noted interest in additional military systems and vehicles from both sides.

Vucic noted Hungary’s refusal to allow a NATO land invasion in 1999 and he thanked Prime Minister Viktor Orban for standing by Serbia.

“Today, 26 years later, we are building strategic defense ties. This agreement could be the beginning of a future military alliance,” said Vucic, adding that the idea would also need support from both parliaments.

Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Duric welcomed the agreement, emphasizing the broader significance of Serbian-Hungarian relations.

“Our cooperation with Hungary is not only a reflection of shared interests in defense, but also of a strategic vision for regional stability and integration into the European Union,” he said. “This agreement shows that Serbia is capable of building strong partnerships that are based on trust, mutual respect, and long-term goals.”

Duric noted that the agreement complements growing economic, energy, and infrastructure cooperation between the two countries, positioning Serbia as a reliable partner in Central and Southeast Europe.

Szalay-Bobrovniczky confirmed that both countries reviewed a 72-point plan, which included naval cooperation, military training and joint drills.

“Hungary sees Serbia as a key partner and supports its EU membership path,” he said. “Our cooperation continues to expand, and peace remains a shared priority.”

The defense pact came shortly after Kosovo, Croatia and Albania signed a separate defense cooperation declaration March 18 in Tirana. That agreement, involving the defense ministers of all three countries, aims to strengthen military ties through joint exercises, training programs and increased interoperability.

While the trilateral declaration has been welcomed in Pristina and Zagreb, it has drawn sharp criticism from Belgrade. Serbian President Vucic previously warned that the move could contribute to an arms race in the region, arguing it threatened to destabilize the fragile security balance in the Western Balkans.

The back-to-back military initiatives reflect growing polarization in regional security alignments, with Serbia deepening ties with Hungary amid mounting tensions with NATO-aligned neighbors.​​​​​​​