Serbian Army Headquarters Disinformation About Croatia-Albania-Kosovo Military Cooperation

The General Staff of the Serbian Army has claimed that the meeting of the chiefs of general staff of Albania and Croatia with representatives of Kosovo constitutes "a serious security challenge directed against Serbia."

The statement was broadcast by media outlets close to the government in Belgrade, including Sputnik Srbija.

What is being claimed?

According to the published announcement:

“The activities of Albania, Croatia and Pristina constitute a security challenge against Serbia”;

There is a need for increased monitoring of the situation and response by the Serbian Army;

Trilateral cooperation has a political-security dimension directed against Belgrade.

What do the facts say?

1. Content of the signed declaration

The Declaration of Cooperation, signed on March 18, 2025 in Tirana, clearly states that the goal is to strengthen defense capacities, increase interoperability through joint training and exercises, and advance regional stability and Euro-Atlantic processes. The text does not mention any state as a threat target, nor any aggressive plan against Serbia.

2. NATO context

Albania and Croatia have been members of NATO since 2009. Their military meetings and coordination are part of regular practices within the alliance's collective security system and do not constitute an extraordinary development.

For more than two decades, the NATO peacekeeping mission, KFOR, has been present in Kosovo, with a mandate to maintain security and stability. KFOR's mandate does not include preparations for offensive operations against Serbia.

3. International reporting

According to reports by The Defense Post, the trilateral cooperation aims to strengthen regional stability, improve interoperability between armed forces, and address common challenges such as hybrid threats and cybersecurity.

There is no evidence suggesting the creation of a military alliance directed against Serbia.

4. The attitude of Croatian officials

The Prime Minister of Croatia has publicly stated that the signed document has no aggressive or hostile intent and does not aim to create a military bloc, but rather to deepen cooperation and increase interoperability.

NATO's reaction

Meanwhile, NATO has responded to Serbia, which complained about Croatia and Albania's military connection with Kosovo.

NATO Deputy Secretary General, Radmila Sheqerinska, in an interview with "Beta" emphasized the importance of defense investments for the security and stability of the Western Balkans, a region which, according to her, is affected not only by global geopolitical developments, but also by political dialogue.

She said that Croatia and Albania are reliable NATO allies and contributors to regional stability.

"Albania and Croatia are not only reliable and valuable allies within the Alliance. They are also important contributors to regional peace and stability. They are present in KFOR, but in general they are very focused on supporting this agenda in the region," said Shekerinska.

Analyze

The claim that the meetings and the declaration of cooperation constitute a "threat to Serbia" is not supported by the content of the signed document, the context of commitments within NATO, or by reports by international media specializing in defense issues.

The cooperation between Albania, Croatia, and Kosovo is presented in official documents and statements as an initiative to increase defense capacities and regional stability, not as a project directed against a specific state.

The claim of the General Staff of the Serbian Army is unfounded in public facts and constitutes a political interpretation of an agreement that, according to documents and independent sources, has a cooperative and non-aggressive character.

The Geopost