Defense Cooperation to Be Further Strengthened with Serbia

Military cooperation between the two countries has never been so strong, as is evident from the agreement on cooperation for the year 2025, signed by the two sides, Hungarian Defense Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky said in Belgrade on Tuesday, at a joint press conference with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić.

The minister emphasized that “in today’s rapidly changing and uncertain international environment, it is of utmost importance that Serbia and Hungary, as neighboring countries, consult each other continuously and at a high level in order to ensure stability in the region.” He added that

Hungary has the most intensive bilateral defense and military relations with Serbia among the neighboring non-EU and NATO member states,” and Hungary is also contributing to the modernization of the Serbian armed forces.

Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky pointed out that cooperation between the two ministries of defense and the armed forces is becoming increasingly strong, and Serbia and Hungary are strategic partners. The minister detailed that according to the document signed on Tuesday, “a total of 79 joint programs will be implemented in the year 2025,” such as naval training, multinational peace operations training for volunteer reserve personnel, and rifle training.

In Belgrade today, I reaffirmed Hungary’s commitment to #peace and stability in the Western Balkans. Serbia and @predsednikrs is a key partner in this effort, and we strongly support its #EU integration. Our strategic ties span all areas—including #defence. pic.twitter.com/paFmWwjASq

— Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky (@SzBobrovniczky) April 1, 2025

He pointed out that these programs “contribute to the further development of relations between the two countries and ensure the achievement of common goals in the defense and military fields.” Mr. Szalay-Bobrovniczky stated that “Hungary is committed to peace and stability in the Western Balkans, of which Serbia is a key player.” He added that Hungary continues to maintain its position that the European Union cannot be complete without the Western Balkans, including Serbia.

A credible and substantive enlargement policy is a strategic goal of ours that goes back decades, and accordingly it was one of the main priorities of our EU Presidency in 2024. Hungary will provide all political and professional assistance for the accession process to be completed as soon as possible,”

he said.

Finally, the minister underlined that the importance of the Western Balkans is also demonstrated by Hungary’s international military engagement, as Hungary “has been an active participant in KFOR and EUFOR operations from the very beginning, and has contributed a commander and hundreds of soldiers to both operations.” Budapest has also consistently supported the Dayton Peace Agreement.

At the joint press conference, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić also pointed out that Serbia has the most intensive defense relations with Hungary among the neighboring countries. He said that comprehensive defense cooperation is one of the most important points of the strategic relationship between the two countries.

He stressed that

thanks to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, NATO was unable to launch a land attack against then Yugoslavia in 1999.

He pointed out that 26 years later, the two sides have the opportunity to build a very close strategic relationship and to further deepen this cooperation, which will bring a Hungarian-Serbian military alliance closer. He said that Serbia could learn a lot from Hungary and that Belgrade was also interested in certain combat equipment.

Стратешка сарадња Србије и Мађарске у области одбране је један од најважнијих аспеката наше свеобухватне стратешке сарадње.https://t.co/izoIeMFrrs

— Александар Вучић (@avucic) April 1, 2025

Mr. Vučić expressed hope that the agreement on joint military activities will be continued in order to create a military alliance between Serbia and Hungary, Pannon RTV reported. “In these 79 activities, many things are important for us. Joint activities, training and exercises, military industry, peace operations, cyber security, military education, and military medicine. The helicopter exercises that we will conduct with our Hungarian partners are very important for us. They have an outstanding infrastructure, which is very important for us. The airfields in Hungary and Serbia will be used almost equally,” the President explained.

“We expect more joint work in the military field, establishing additional trust, and further good relations between Hungarian and Serbian soldiers, but I believe that all of this that we are doing will mean greater security for all our citizens,” emphasized President Vučić, reported Vucic.rs.

The Serbian President also said that he will soon meet Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, with whom he will discuss the continuation of strategic cooperation between the two countries.

Aleksandar Vučić thanked Hungary for standing by Serbia not only in good times but also in difficult times, and said that Budapest could always count on Belgrade’s support. He pointed out that Serbia and Hungary are also reliable partners in the energy sector, and that bilateral trade in goods is increasing year by year. Regarding energy cooperation, Mr. Vučić said that in the third quarter of this year, the project for the construction of a joint oil pipeline between Algyő (Hungary) and Novi Sad (Serbia) will be completed, after which work could start in the fourth quarter.

Via MTI, Pannon RTV, Vucic.rs, Featured photo via Honvedelem.hu