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International Military Cooperation – Serbia – 2024

MILITARY EXERCISES

In 2023, the participation of the Serbian Armed Forces in international exercises, either bilateral or multilateral, was shaped by the Serbian Government’s decision from late February 2022 to abort all activities related to planning, preparing and conducting the exercises with foreign partners. This decision was made in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. However, in 2023, the Serbian Government exempted “the Platinum Wolf 2023”, a military exercise co-organised by the United States European Command and Serbian Armed Forces and hosted by Serbia, from the 2022 decision, making it the only international military exercise in which Serbian Armed Forces participated in 2023.

DONATIONS

In 2023, Serbia signed four international agreements on donations, one with China and three with the US. It has not been specified whether these agreements have been implemented, but the data on their monetary value were disclosed in the response by the Serbian MoD. A major change compared to the previous years, when the US dominated as the military donor, is that this year’s donation from China exceeds all the US donations aggregate. In March 2023, Serbia and China signed an agreement on free military aid to Serbia valued at 50 million Chinese yuan or EUR 6.700.000. No other data on this donation were available, including its exact content of equipment and when the donation was implemented.

Within the Global Initiative for Peace Operations Fund, the US signed an agreement to donate USD 155.832 to the Serbian military to cover the warehousing and transportation expenses for assembly facilities. A protocol was signed for the US to donate military tents, “Shelter Base X307 16×35”, worth USD 75.232 to the Serbian Armed Forces. The US also signed an agreement to donate IT equipment worth USD 21.742,88 to the Serbian military.

TOP FOREIGN DONORS 2023

China
EUR 6.7 million

United States of America
USD 252.806,88

2024 – Balkan Defence Monitor
International Military Cooperation – Serbia

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International Military Cooperation – North Macedonia – 2024

MILITARY EXERCISES

In 2023, North Macedonia participated in 31 international military exercises. Among these exercises, 13 were bilateral and 18 were multilateral. Regarding bilateral military exercises, five were conducted with the US, four with Turkey, two with Greece and one with the UK and France, respectively. 

NATO and its Partnership for Peace (PfP) programme absolutely dominate when it comes to multilateral international military exercises in which North Macedonia participated. Nine of these exercises were done under the auspices of NATO, among which there were two cyber security exercises, including “Cyber Unity 23” and “Cyber Coalition 23”. Five exercises were led by the US to prepare the US army and the ally armies to operate under NATO standards. Three exercises were regional in scope, like the “Laufer 23” implemented within the Adriatic Charter (A-5), “Strong Balkan 23 (B-9)”; a regional exercise intended to boost interoperability with NATO, and exercise “Maple Arch 23” held under the auspice South-Eastern Europe Brigade (SEEBRIG) to bring the participating countries closer to NATO standards. The North Macedonian Army also participated in “Triglav Star 23” with Slovenia, UK, and Colorado Army National Guard participation.

DONATIONS

The North Macedonian MoD could not provide an absolute value of all the donations in 2023, but the approximate value was provided. It was impossible to extrapolate the exact timeframe of these donations based on the MoD’s response and the open sources. However, based on the provided data, the US military donations are valued at approximately USD 3.718.792, followed by the UK, whose donations were approximately GBP 100.000. It was not possible to identify the exact content of the UK donations. Still, the US donations mostly involved the donation of spare parts, including for armoured vehicles and measurement instruments. Lithuania also donated spare parts to North Macedonia, although it was not possible to identify the monetary value. However, the largest military donation to North Macedonia was from the EU, as the European Peace Facility (EPF) provided assistance worth EUR 9 million intended for the equipment of the light infantry battalion group to enhance the ability to participate in EU military missions under the auspices of EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy.

TOP FOREIGN DONORS 2023

EU – the European Peace Facility (EPF)
USD 9 million

2024 – Balkan Defence Monitor
International Military Cooperation – North Macedonia

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International Military Cooperation – Montenegro – 2024

MILITARY EXERCISES

Based on the response from the MoD and from open-source research, it is estimated that Montenegro participated in 25 military exercises in 2023, and 23 of these exercises were multilateral. When it comes to multilateral exercises, 17 were NATO exercises, one was a multilateral US-led exercise, and one was a Greece-led exercise. Within the NATO exercise, the one that sticks out was “Common Challenge 23”, hosted by Montenegro, which focused on elite mountain warfare. Four exercises were under the auspices of regional initiatives, one with the Adriatic Charter (A-5), two with the Adriatic-Ionian Initiative (ADRION) and the regional special forces exercise “Strong Balkan 23 (B-9)”;

DONATIONS

There is limited information on international military donations to Montenegro in 2023. Turkey appears to be the greatest military donor in 2023, having donated three logistic vehicles worth USD 1.2 million. Slovenia donated seven mountain guns and 112 salvos for the Honorary Guard, but there is no estimate of the monetary value of this donation.

TOP FOREIGN DONORS 2023

Turkey
USD 1.2 million

2024 – Balkan Defence Monitor
International Military Cooperation – Montenegro

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International Military Cooperation – Croatia – 2024

MILITARY EXERCISES

While the Croatian MoD does not respond to FOI requests, the open-source search led to the compilation of data through the Croatian MoD’s website and relied on the plan of military exercises that the Croatian government adopted in early 2023. Based on these two sources of data, it was established that Croatia had 66 military exercises in 2023. Most of these were multilateral exercises, totalling 57 of which 47 were with NATO or multilateral exercises led by major NATO powers to boost interoperability with NATO and the application of NATO standards. Two exercises were held with the EU. There were also eight regional exercises done under the auspices of various regional initiatives, including three with the Regional Multinational Division Centre, one with the Adriatic Charter (A-5), two with the Adriatic-Ionian Initiative (ADRION), one with the Defence Cooperation Initiative (DECI) and one with the Central European Defence Cooperation. Bilaterally, there were nine international military exercises, including the US (5 exercises), France (2 exercises), the UK (1 exercise) and Italy (1 exercise). These exercises were diverse in scope and nature as the individual exercises involved regular troops, special forces, the navy, air force, military police, cyber defence and computer-assisted exercises, among others.

DONATIONS

Just like in 2021 and 2022, the US again became Croatia’s largest military donor. The combined value of donations and grants from the US to Croatia is USD 202.1 million. These involve an agreement with the US on a foreign military assistance programme worth USD 140 million (EUR 152 million). The acquisition of 89 infantry fighting vehicles, Bradley from the US, involves Croatia providing USD 145,2 million and the US providing USD 57 million. Croatian special forces also received three Rigid Inflatable Boats (RIBs) from the US worth USD 5.1 million. The UK donated IT equipment of unspecified monetary value.

TOP FOREIGN DONORS 2023

United States of America
USD 202.1 million

2024 – Balkan Defence Monitor
International Military Cooperation – Croatia

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International Military Cooperation – Bosnia and Herzegovina – 2024

MILITARY EXERCISES

Based on the response from the MoD of Bosnia and Herzegovina, it was estimated that there were 14 military exercises. Nine of the 14 exercises were multilateral, with four conducted with NATO and three US-led multilateral exercises. Two of these multilateral exercises were regional, with one being the “Strong Balkan 23 (B-9),” and the second one was the one in which the military medical team took part in an exercise organised by the Balkan Medical Task Force (BMTF). There were five military exercises in 2023. Two were done with Turkey, with Bosnia and Herzegovina being an observer in the “Anatolian Phoenix 2023” exercise. While the regional initiative Adriatic Charter (A-5) held an exercise called “Laufer 23”, Bosnia and Herzegovina participated in it on a bilateral basis with Croatia. One bilateral exercise was held with Italy. Bosnia and Herzegovina also took part in an exercise, “Adriatic Strike 2023”, gathering NATO members and NATO partner countries. The MoD of Bosnia and Herzegovina classified this exercise as a bilateral exercise, but it was impossible to determine the partner country for this exercise.

DONATIONS

The response from the MoD did not include information on foreign military donations. Based on an open-source search, it is estimated that the EU was the largest donor to the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with the total value being EUR 26 million. Under the European Peace Facility (EPF), the EU pledged an Assistance Measure to Bosnia and Herzegovina worth EUR 10 million for demining efforts. In addition, the EU approved further EUR 10 million for field equipment, military engineering tools and CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear) material for the Tactical Support Brigade. The donations also involved the EUR 6 million Assistance Measure under the EPF for the Balkan Medical Task Force. Germany donated EUR 410.000, with EUR 350.000 being the value of IT equipment for the Training Centre for Peace Support Operations (PSOTC) and the EUR 60.000 support for the demining battalion.

2024 – Balkan Defence Monitor
International Military Cooperation – BiH

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International Military Cooperation – Albania – 2024

MILITARY EXERCISES

Based on open-source data, Albania is estimated to have participated in 20 military events in 2023.
There were 17 multilateral exercises. Most of these exercises were with NATO, ten total. There were three US-led multilateral exercises. There were four regional multilateral exercises: one with the Adriatic Charter (A-5) and two with the Adriatic-Ionian Initiative (ADRION). The most important of these regional exercises was the special operation forces’ exercise hosted by Albania, “Strong Balkan 23 (B-9)”; an exercise
intended to boost interoperability with NATO. In total, Albania participated in three bilateral military drills in 2023. Two bilateral military drills were conducted with the US and one with the New Jersey Army National Guard. One bilateral military drill was done with Turkey.

DONATIONS

As the Albanian MoD refused to respond to the request for access to information, open-source research was conducted. Based on open sources, the US was the largest military donor to Albania in 2023 with USD 9.74 million.

TOP FOREIGN DONORS 2022

United States of America
USD 9.74 million

2024 – Balkan Defence Monitor
International Military Cooperation – Albania

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2023-IMC-Serbia

International Military Cooperation – Serbia – 2023

MILITARY EXERCISES

In 2022, the Serbian Armed Forces did not participate in any international exercises, either bilateral or multilateral. The reason for this was the decision of the Government of the Republic of Serbia that the Armed Forces were to abort all activities related to planning, preparing and conducting exercises with foreign partners. This decision was a direct result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Before it was made, Serbia conducted exercises with both NATO and Russia, although always more with NATO members.

DONATIONS

The Serbian MoD reported only one donation in 2022 – of IT equipment valued at RSD 495,594 (slightly above EUR 4,215.70) – by the South Eastern and Eastern Europe Clearinghouse for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SEESAC) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), intended for promoting gender equality. Open-source research showed that Serbia also received medical equipment consisting of a 64 slice scanner and a mobile X-ray machine for the Military Medical Centre “Karaburma” from the US embassy. The value of this donation was never specified.

US donations 2022

South Eastern and Eastern Europe
Clearinghouse
EUR 4,215.70

2023 – Balkan Defence Monitor
International Military Cooperation – Serbia

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2023-IMC-Macedonia

International Military Cooperation – North Macedonia – 2023

MILITARY EXERCISES

In 2022, North Macedonia participated in 20 international military exercises. Five of these were bilateral – four were conducted with the US and one with Greece. The rest were multilateral exercises conducted through NATO and its Partnership for Peace (PfP) programme. Beyond these international exercises, North Macedonia also held one national exercise, “Flash 22”, intended to demonstrate that the army is combat-ready according to NATO standards, or more precisely, according to the Standards for Evaluation of Ground Commands and units of the NATO Joint Operations Command – CREVAL (Combat Readiness Evaluation).

DONATIONS

Based on data provided by the North Macedonian MoD, the UK’s donation to North Macedonia amounted to GBP 377,738 (USD 454,154; EUR 438,119) and involved two transactions. These transactions most likely concerned the delivery of 14 mobile training units for operations in the urban environment. The United Kingdom also made another donation to North Macedonia, valued at EUR 100,000 when presented in Euros. There is no data on whether this relates to training units or other donations. Although North Macedonia is one of the NATO allies that are expected to receive military aid from the US in light of the war in Ukraine, no information related to military donations from the US in 2022 was found while doing research.

TOP FOREIGN DONORS 2022

UK
EUR 538,119

2023 – Balkan Defence Monitor
International Military Cooperation – North Macedonia

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International Military Cooperation – Montenegro – 2023

MILITARY EXERCISES

As extrapolated from open-source research, it is estimated that Montenegro participated in 17 military exercises in 2022. Most were organised under the auspices of NATO, with one bilateral naval exercise with Slovenia. The military medical team from Montenegro participated in the exercise that was organised by the Balkan Medical Task Force (BMTF).

DONATIONS

Norway donated USD 65,000 in medical equipment to Montenegro’s Military Medical Centre, including for combating the Coronavirus pandemic. Multilaterally, the Organisation for Security and Co-operation (OSCE) donated EUR 34,698 (USD 34,815) worth of equipment for classrooms intended for training members of the Armed Forces. In 2022, the US Department of State has announced a donation to 17 of its European allies, of which USD 23 million is intended for Montenegro. It remains unclear whether said donation was implemented in 2022, but if it was, it would mean that the US is still the largest military donor to the country.¹ While data on the exact amount was not specified, part of the US aid to Montenegro emphasised cyber-security.

TOP FOREIGN DONORS 2022

United States of America
EUR 23.000,000
Norway
EUR 65,000
OSCE
EUR 34,698

  1.    Radio Slobodna Evropa, Vojna pomoć iz SAD za države Zapadnog Balkana, osim Srbije [Radio Free Europe – U.S. military assistance to Western Balkan countries, with the exception of Serbia], 19 Sept 2022, https://www.slobodnaevropa. org/a/state-department-vojna-pomoc-zapadni-balkan/32040703.html

2023 – Balkan Defence Monitor
International Military Cooperation – Montenegro

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International Military Cooperation – Croatia – 2023

MILITARY EXERCISES

Croatia remains active when it comes to military exercises and, based on public sources, it is estimated that it has participated in 14 such exercises in 2022. Some of them were conducted on a multilateral basis, with NATO. Bilateral military exercises have been conducted mostly with the US (5 exercises), but also with France (2 exercises) and the UK (1 exercise). Exercises related to special forces and maritime exercises were represented as well. Croatia also participated in a multinational naval exercise, “ADRION LIVEX 2022”, organised under the auspices of the regional Adriatic-Ionian Initiative (ADRION).

DONATIONS

The United States appears to be the country’s biggest military donor, much like in 2021. In 2022, Croatia received two UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters from the US, estimated at USD 55 million.

To assist Croatia in acquiring Bradley infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs), the US pledged to provide USD 51.1 million in European Recapitalisation Incentive Programme (ERIP) financial aid to Croatia, with Croatia being obliged to secure the remaining USD 145.3 million of the total transaction amounting to USD 196.4 million. Some sources noted that, with the arrival of Black Hawk helicopters, the US military assistance to Croatia reached USD 685 million. It is not possible to determine the accuracy of this assessment and whether it took into account the deal on Bradley vehicles, which was made in the same period.

2023 – Balkan Defence Monitor
International Military Cooperation – Croatia

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