Hungary and Serbia have signed an agreement to enhance military cooperation in 2025, expanding their strategic partnership. Hungarian Defense Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky announced the agreement during a visit to Belgrade on Tuesday, where he met with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić.
Speaking at a joint press conference, Szalay-Bobrovniczky emphasized the importance of maintaining regular high-level consultations between the two neighboring countries to support regional stability. According to the minister, Hungary and Serbia have the strongest bilateral defense and military ties among countries outside the European Union and NATO. He noted that Hungary is contributing to Serbia's military modernization.
The cooperation agreement includes 79 joint programs scheduled for 2025. These activities will cover flotilla training, an international exercise for volunteer reservists, and marksmanship training.
Szalay-Bobrovniczky stated that Hungary remains committed to stability in the Western Balkans, considering Serbia a key factor in achieving that goal. He reiterated Hungary’s position that the European Union's enlargement should include the Western Balkans and referenced Hungary’s efforts to prioritize this issue during its 2024 presidency of the EU Council. He also reaffirmed Budapest’s support for the Dayton Peace Agreement.
President Vučić described Serbia’s defense relationship with Hungary as the strongest among its neighbors. He highlighted that military cooperation is a central element of the two countries’ broader strategic partnership.
Vučić also referenced historical events, stating that in 1999, during the Balkan wars, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán played a role in preventing NATO from launching a land operation against Yugoslavia. He described the current state of Hungarian-Serbian military relations as a significant shift, with both sides deepening their collaboration.
Additionally, Vučić mentioned Serbia’s interest in acquiring certain military equipment from Hungary and stated that the country values learning from its northern neighbor’s experience. He expressed appreciation for Hungary’s diplomatic and economic support, adding that Serbia would continue to be a reliable partner.
Beyond defense cooperation, Vučić noted that Hungary and Serbia maintain strong energy sector collaboration, and trade between the two countries has been steadily increasing.