The Republic of Serbia and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization have opened their first-ever joint military exercise near Bujanovac, introducing a new chapter of cooperation in a region where military partnerships are politically sensitive. The operation is scheduled as a two-week programme that, according to official notices, began on Tuesday and runs until May 23. Around 600 troops from Serbia, Italy, Romania and Turkiye are participating along with armoured assets and support units, and photographs released by the Serbian Ministry of Defence show personnel from both sides training side by side at the Jugu military base and the Borovc range.
How the training is organised and what it covers
The drills are being run under the direction of the Land Forces Command and the Joint Forces Command based in Naples, reflecting NATO logistics and planning support. A detailed roster of planners and observers has been announced, including military personnel from France, Germany, Italy, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Turkiye, the United Kingdom and the United States who will monitor, advise and evaluate the activities. Colonel Branislav Stevanović, deputy commander of Serbia’s Third Brigade, has been named as a senior national leader for the exercise. Trainers and participants are focusing on peace support tasks such as base security, checkpoint operations, crowd management at mass gatherings and urban combat drills that mirror scenarios peacekeepers might face.
Participants, roles and visible assets
Organisers say that the mix of forces is intended to improve interoperability and mutual understanding by placing units from several countries into a common training environment. The core contingent includes troops from Serbia, Italy, Romania and Turkiye while military planners and observers come from an extended list of NATO and partner states. Media images show mixed convoys and armoured vehicles from both Serbian and NATO contingents operating on the ranges. Officials emphasise that these activities fall within the parameters of NATO’s Partnership for Peace programme and are designed to strengthen command-and-control routines as well as field-level cooperation among participating forces.
Historical context and domestic sensitivities
The exercise takes place against a backdrop of difficult memories and unresolved political issues stemming from the 1999 air campaign. NATO’s strikes against Belgrade during the Kosovo conflict remain a sensitive subject in Serbia, and the presence of a NATO-led peacekeeping mission, KFOR, in Kosovo since 1999 is a recurring point of contention. Serbia has not recognised Kosovo’s 2008 declaration of independence and maintains a policy of military neutrality—that is, an official stance of not joining military alliances—which continues to shape how Belgrade frames any cooperation with NATO. NATO officials have noted that the drills are being conducted “in full respect” of Serbia’s stated neutrality.
Recent patterns in Serbia’s defence partnerships
Over the past decade Serbia has upgraded its armed forces and diversified suppliers, purchasing equipment from NATO member states as well as from Russia and China. After Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2026, Belgrade imposed a moratorium on most foreign drills, but it has allowed exceptions. Notable recent exceptions include the Platinum Wolf exercises with the United States and other NATO partners in 2026 and again in 2026, and a special forces training exchange held in Hebei province in July 2026 with China. At the same time, Serbia has avoided joint exercises with Russia and Belarus since 2026 and has previously withdrawn from planned multilateral drills amid political controversies.
Implications for regional stability and future cooperation
Officials in Belgrade describe the operation as a step toward preserving peace and stability in the Western Balkans and improving the operational capabilities of all participating forces. Supporters say the exercise can help build trust, refine shared procedures and reduce the chance of misunderstandings during crises. Critics and domestic political figures may view joint activity with NATO through a different lens given historical grievances, so the broader diplomatic payoff will depend on careful communication and measured follow-up. For the alliance, this engagement is consistent with its Partnership for Peace approach: a mechanism that allows practical cooperation without formal alliance membership.
What to watch next
Observers will monitor post-exercise statements, the composition of future drills and whether similar activities expand to involve additional partners or capabilities. Key indicators include official assessments of the field training, any changes to Serbia’s stated policies, and diplomatic signals from capitals in Brussels, Moscow and Beijing. For now, the drills near Bujanovac represent a cautious, carefully framed effort to combine practical training with political sensitivities in a complex regional environment.
