Former Croatian Defense Minister, Ante Kotromanović, commented on Serbia’s arms buildup and regional security issues in an interview with N1, highlighting potential threats to Kosovo.
Kotromanović stated that he believes Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić would have attacked Kosovo if Russia’s war in Ukraine had gone differently.
“I would like to remind that Croatia and Serbia signed a bilateral military-technical cooperation agreement in 2009. Based on it, we provided aid during floods and conducted about 10–15 joint military exercises of various types. Everything Vučić is doing now regarding rearmament is an internal instrument to strengthen his position and that of his party, alongside efforts to control all segments needed to stay in power,” Kotromanović said.
He continued, “They also obsessively talk about Kosovo, which they cannot overcome. I believe Vučić, with his forces and some Russians, would have advanced into Kosovo if Russia had defeated Ukraine within a month. Who would have stopped him then?”
Kotromanović also emphasized the differences between Croatia and Serbia’s armaments.
“Croatia is a NATO member and has obligations. This is in no way a threat, and we would never combine forces to attack Serbia. That would be pure madness,” he concluded.
