The defence ministers of the three countries signed a joint declaration on Tuesday on trilateral co-operation in the sector, an initiative they said was open to other countries in Southeast Europe.
Kosovo
The most notable purchase by Kosovo, which has allocated more than 200 million euros for weapons and various types of equipment between 2021 and 2023 as part of the process of transforming the Security Forces into an army, was the Bayraktar TB2 UAVs purchased from Turkey last year.
Kosovo is also seeking to become a member of the Partnership for Peace programme, which provides for NATO’s bilateral military co-operation with non-member countries.
Croatia
Croatia, a member of NATO and the EU, has brought back conscription from January 1, 2025, which was abolished in 2008. The country’s Defence Minister Ivan Anušić said that compulsory military service of 60 days is introduced at the beginning of 2025.
In recent years, Croatia has purchased Bradley armoured vehicles from the United States and Rafale combat aircraft from France, calling the initiatives “modernisation” of the army. According to the Croatian Ministry of Defence, the country’s military budget for 2024 as part of the army modernisation increased by 622 percent compared to 2016.
Albania
Albania became a member of NATO in 2009. The country, which abolished compulsory military service after joining NATO, has an army composed of professional personnel selected according to certain criteria.
In March 2024, the first NATO airbase in the Western Balkans opened in the town of Kuchova, in the Berat district in the southern part of the country. Albanian authorities have stated that the base gives Albania a new geostrategic importance.
