Serbia – NATO Defence Cooperation
Serbia – NATO Defence Cooperation

Author(s): Foto Duro
Contributor(s): Isidora Stakic (Editor)
Subject(s): Politics / Political Sciences, Politics, International relations/trade, Security and defense
Published by: BCBP Beogradski centar za bezbednosnu politiku
Keywords: Serbian Defense Policy;
Summary/Abstract: Serbia has entirely ruled out joining NATO thus far, but it has joined the PfP initiative and established permanent relations with the alliance. This study analyses the “exceptionality” of Serbia’s relations with NATO, both from a broad perspective concerning Serbia’s society and political landscape, and from a more specific perspective related to defence. // Serbia’s political set-up remains highly influenced by public aversion to NATO, caused by memories of the 1999 bombing campaign, as well as by NATO’s support for the independence of Kosovo. This has inhibited the build¬ing of a national consensus on key security issues and the development of adequate strategies, meaning that defence cooperation between Serbia and NATO has remained at an underdeveloped stage. Nevertheless, there are several areas of Serbia’s defence sector which have benefited to various degrees from cooperation with NATO, such as defence-reform, defence-planning, personnel management, military education and training and the disposal of excessive and obsolete ammunition and weapons. While this cooperation has been somewhat overstated by both sides, a more pragmatic approach should be applied to further progress, better supported by cost-benefit analysis. In addition, it should be better presented to Serbian society.

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