Bulgaria Denies Joining New Balkan Military Alliance

The Bulgarian government has denied reports suggesting it is preparing to join a new military alliance that includes Croatia, Albania, and the partially recognized state of Kosovo.

In a statement released by Bulgaria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Georg Georgiev, he stated: “Reports of Bulgaria's interest in the Declaration of Military Cooperation between Croatia, Kosovo, and Albania are inaccurate.”

On Tuesday, Kosovo’s Defense Minister Ejup Maqedonci claimed in an interview with TRT Balkans that Bulgaria had confirmed its intention to join the emerging bloc. The statement sparked widespread speculation and concern across social media, amid growing instability in the region's security landscape.

Last month, Croatia, Albania, and Kosovo signed a trilateral military pact, widely viewed as an effort to de facto integrate Albania and Kosovo into the Euro-Atlantic system, including NATO and the European Union.

In response, Serbia signed a military cooperation agreement with Hungary on April 3. Serbian Defense Minister Bratislav Gašić called the Croatia-Albania-Kosovo pact “a provocative move that undermines efforts to strengthen regional security.” Serbia has also expressed interest in bringing Slovakia into its orbit—another country that, like Hungary, has shown a desire for greater autonomy from the Euro-Atlantic establishment.

Milorad Dodik, the controversial leader of Republic Srpska—the Serb-majority entity within Bosnia and Herzegovina—has also signaled willingness to align with Serbia and Hungary.

Although the Balkans have enjoyed relative peace for over two decades, the security frameworks established after the Cold War appear to be weakening. As Western influence globally declines, a flurry of alliance-building is reshaping the geopolitical order in Southeastern Europe with possibly foreseeing a post-NATO/EU world.