The declaration focuses primarily on promoting defense capabilities and cooperation, increasing interoperability through education, countering hybrid threats, and providing full support for Euro-Atlantic integration (in this case, for Albania and Kosovo).
The Declaration on Cooperation in the Field of Defense signed in Tirana on March 18 by the Defense Ministers of Croatia, Albania and Kosovo, given Serbia’s attempts to destabilize the Balkans, is being considered “very welcome” by security experts. For military and security expert Ramadan Qehaja, this trilateral signing, in addition to being of extraordinary importance, also contributes to the peace and stability of the Balkans as a whole. “This agreement has defensive purposes, therefore it is very positive,” Qehaja told the Albanian Post. Serbia described the signing of a trilateral military declaration between Croatia, Albania and Kosovo as “a violation of Regional stability” and an “open provocation.”
However, according to Qehaja, this military deal is not aimed at “destabilization” or even inciting an eventual “provocation.” “This is simply a preparation for defense,” he added to the AP.
The declaration in Tirana between Croatia, Albania and Kosovo, on the other hand, according to the former chief inspector of the Kosovo Intelligence Agency (KIA), should be a starting point for much more than just a declaration. “The Balkan Smart Defense Initiative is necessary, inevitable, essentially democratic and protects democracy, and as such is innovative and proactive. It should not be just a declarative aspect or general cooperation,” Ramadani wrote on the social platform, Facebook. The democratic states of the Balkans, according to Ramadani, should jointly assess security threats and risks, and jointly build the necessary capacities as joint first responders in the Balkans to threats. This initiative, Ramadani further explains, should in no way be seen as a replacement for NATO.
“On the contrary, Smart Defense is a NATO concept, which NATO promotes in different Regions where countries have similar specificities,” he adds. The Declaration on Defense Cooperation between Croatia, Albania, and Kosovo is divided into four key pillars.
The declaration in the form of an agreement focuses primarily on promoting defense capabilities and cooperation, increasing interoperability through education, countering hybrid threats, and providing full support for Euro-Atlantic integration (in this case, for Albania and Kosovo).
The declaration was signed by three defense ministers: Albania’s Pirro Vengu, Croatia’s Ivan Anusic, and Kosovo’s Ejup Makedonci. Montenegro announced through its Defense Ministry that it was not invited to join the Declaration on Cooperation in the Field of Defense. According to the Montenegrin Defense Ministry, they are “not aware” that official Podgorica has been offered to sign the Declaration. Paçka, the Defense Ministry in Montenegro, told Radio Free Europe, Serbian edition, that they will continue to strengthen cooperation with all countries in the Region, promoting the Euro-Atlantic vision of the Western Balkans. Minister Makedonci said in a media appearance that Bulgaria could be part of this military declaration, since, according to him, official Sofia has expressed interest in joining this initiative “in the near future.”
Belgrade, on the other hand, demanded an explanation from Tirana and Zagreb regarding the intentions of the initiative, as it saw this step as a provocation aimed at “isolating Serbia.” The Kosovo Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora said that such behavior by Serbia represents a new violation of the Brussels/Ohrid Agreement, “which clearly stipulates that Serbia will not hinder Kosovo’s international relations.”
Meanwhile, Croatia said that the time has passed when Zagreb asked Belgrade for permission on how to act and with whom to cooperate.
What does the declaration contain in its entirety?
– Recognizing the strong and stable relations between the Republic of Albania, the Republic of Croatia and the Republic of Kosovo, based on shared values, strategic orientations and mutual commitments towards Regional security and cooperation,
– Reaffirming our intention to strengthen trilateral security and defense cooperation to enhance security and stability in Southeastern Europe and the Adriatic-Ionian Region,
– Stressing the importance of joint efforts to respond to new security challenges, hybrid threats and other risks that could undermine Regional, European and international stability,
– Taking immediate action to develop defense capabilities, recognizing the ambitions stemming from NATO’s Strategic Concept and the European Union’s Strategic Compass, designed to enhance our ability to protect our territories and people, as well as to contribute to international peace and security,
– Advancing joint steps to increase defense industrial cooperation and production in line with NATO’s Commitment to Industrial Expansion and the European Union’s plan for “Rearmament of Europe”,
– We are determined to ensure that we are well positioned to confront current and emerging threats, as well as to achieve our defense and security objectives,
– We: the Minister of Defense of the Republic of Albania, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense of the Republic of Croatia, and the Minister of Defense of the Republic of Kosovo, declare our commitment as follows:
Promoting defense capabilities and cooperation for the relevant industry by:
– Explore the development and acquisition of defense capabilities through multinational cooperation solutions to increase the readiness of our military forces;
– Identifying spaces for defense industrial cooperation, promoting access to resources and supply chains to create a competitive and sustainable defense industry;
– Increased efforts to invest in new technologies and innovations to accelerate and ensure a unified approach to security and defense transformation.
Increasing interoperability through education, training and exercises by:
– Share expertise and best practices in recruiting, developing and retaining qualified personnel, including the exchange of reserve force concepts, to enhance our preventive and defensive capabilities;
– Increased individual and collective education and training opportunities through relevant military academies and colleges, in order to have a better strategic understanding of common threats and challenges;
– Strengthen bilateral and/or trilateral exercises to improve interoperability, in line with NATO and EU Training and Exercise Policies, to ensure that forces are adequately prepared.
Countering hybrid threats and increasing resilience by:
– Strengthen joint steps to counter hybrid threats, including cyber threats, disinformation campaigns, as well as malign foreign influence that could compromise or affect national and Regional security;
– Exchange information and intelligence services for strategic and operational situational awareness and coordination between defense institutions to effectively prevent, detect and respond to the challenges facing our respective countries;
– Explore response options that address a wide range of potential threats to our critical infrastructure and communication networks and that support cohesion and mutual assistance.
Providing full support for Euro-Atlantic integration by:
– Align policies and positions with Euro-Atlantic multilateral institutions and structures for security and defense, to advance our national and common Regional interests and objectives;
– Demonstrated commitment to closer cooperation and coordination for the full integration of Kosovo into Regional security and defense initiatives;
– Supported Kosovo’s Euro-Atlantic perspective by providing support for its status in NATO’s Partnership for Peace.
This Joint Declaration is made in the spirit of friendship, solidarity and mutual trust. It reflects the common strategic visions of the Republic of Albania, the Republic of Croatia and the Republic of Kosovo. It does not create any new international or intergovernmental legal obligations between the States, nor does it affect existing obligations with other States.
