Hungary Joins New Military Alliances in the Balkans
Hungary Aligns with Serbia in New Military Cooperation Agreement
A new development is reshaping the geopolitical landscape of the Balkans, as Hungary takes on a more assertive role by aligning closely with Serbia. This move comes amid simmering tensions in the region, especially between Western Balkan NATO allies and countries like Serbia that maintain closer ties to Russia.
On 1 April, Serbia and Hungary signed an ambitious defence cooperation plan, expanding on their 2023 strategic partnership. The agreement includes 79 military-related activities for 2025, such as joint exercises, arms industry collaboration, and officer training. Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić has described the agreement as a “military alliance.”
While no formal alliance has been announced, experts see this as a significant escalation in bilateral cooperation. Hungary’s involvement, despite being a NATO and EU member, has raised concerns, particularly due to its growing relationship with Belgrade, which maintains military neutrality and has strong ties with Moscow.
In contrast, three NATO-aligned Balkan countries—Albania, Croatia, and Kosovo—signed a joint defence declaration in March to enhance coordination and interoperability. This move, while not a formal alliance, is seen as a united front against perceived regional threats, especially from Serbia and the Serb-dominated entity within Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Hungary’s decision to align visibly with Serbia has put it at odds with some of its NATO allies. This signals a broader strategy by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán to promote strategic autonomy within the EU, often in collaboration with non-Western or semi-aligned countries.
While the Hungarian government has not publicly positioned the agreement as part of a new regional bloc, analysts caution that its increasing alignment with Serbia could contribute to deeper fragmentation in the Balkans. These developments come at a critical time, with the EU and NATO working to stabilize the region and reduce Russian influence.
As Kosovo continues to pursue NATO membership, Hungary remains one of the few EU countries that consistently blocks EU-level criticism of Serbia, especially regarding its stance on Kosovo’s sovereignty. These diplomatic gestures, along with expanding military ties, suggest a calculated shift by Hungary towards strengthening a regional axis that could challenge Western-aligned initiatives in Southeast Europe.
The Balkans are entering a new era of strategic competition, and Hungary seems determined to secure its own sphere of influence, even if it doesn’t always align with broader EU or NATO interests. Stay tuned for further updates on Serbia-Hungary relations and NATO-related news.
