Serbia and Hungary signed a document on Tuesday in Belgrade that formalizes the agreement for strategic cooperation in the field of defense, reached in 2023.
The President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, stated that he believes this agreement will be followed by further rapprochement towards the creation of a military alliance between Serbia and Hungary.
“The Hungarian side decides on this, as do the parliaments of Hungary and Serbia. Our relations are more than excellent, and Prime Minister Viktor Orban and I have expressed our desire to continue with the acceleration and further alignment of our positions in the defense sphere,” Vučić said after the signing.
Belgrade reacted harshly in mid-March to a declaration signed at that time in Tirana by Albania, Croatia, and Kosovo, which the participants described as a document aimed at strengthening cooperation to face security challenges that could threaten regional stability. On the other hand, Serbia called it a provocation and a threat to stability.
The new document between Serbia and Hungary was signed by the defense ministers, Bratislav Gashić and Kristof Szalay-Bobrovniczky.
As announced, Belgrade and Budapest have agreed on 79 joint activities in the field of defense during 2025, including joint training, helicopter exercises, and other activities, cooperation in the defense industry, cybersecurity, peacekeeping operations, education, and military medicine.
“Hungary is always on the side of maintaining peace, and Serbia is always an ally in this regard,” said Hungarian Defense Minister Kristof Szalay-Bobrovniczky.
Vučić did not provide more details on the idea of a Serbo-Hungarian military alliance.
Neither the Hungarian nor the Serbian side spoke about this topic, and after the signing of the agreement, journalists were not allowed to ask questions.
Vučić stated that Belgrade, after purchasing BTR-80A armored vehicles from Budapest last year, is interested in purchasing other systems left in Hungary from the Soviet era, as well as the purchase of new Lynx KF-51 combat vehicles, which Hungary produces in cooperation with the German company Rheinmetall. He added that Hungary buys 7.62 mm caliber ammunition from Serbia and is interested in 8×8 combat vehicles produced in Serbia.
