Balkan military leaders summit signals calm in a conflict-prone region

ISTANBUL — Amid renewed geopolitical friction in Europe, Balkan military leaders met in Istanbul to reaffirm their cooperation, offering rare show of unity in a region still shadowed by historic tensions.

On May 28, Turkey hosted the 18th Balkan Chiefs of Defence (CHODs) Conference in Istanbul. Military leaders from Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Greece, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, and Montenegro gathered alongside observers from Slovenia and Croatia. Also in attendance were the chairman of NATO’s Military Committee and the deputy commander of NATO’s Joint Force Command Naples.

At first glance, this might appear as just another high-level military meeting, but both its symbolism and timing are significant. The Balkans — historically one of Europe’s most conflict-prone regions — are once again at the geopolitical forefront amid the ongoing war in Ukraine, escalating tensions between NATO and Russia, and evolving U.S. security commitments in Europe.

Turkish officials used the platform to present plans for establishing a NATO Centre of Excellence for Countering Unmanned Threats, underscoring growing global concerns over the strategic use of drones and autonomous systems in modern warfare — from the Donbas region to the Red Sea.

During the conference, participants reviewed the outcomes of recent multinational military education programs and exercises hosted by Turkey, including Special Forces training and computer-assisted command post drills. Progress since the last summit was assessed through an evaluation of coordination and working group activities, including the endorsement of annual reports and operational results from joint exercises. Attendees reaffirmed their shared commitment to deepening military ties, broadening existing cooperation, and exploring new avenues for collaboration. Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz also delivered a speech at the conference.

In the Balkans, nationalist tensions can smolder for years and quickly spiral out of control. The ability of countries with long-standing disputes to sit at the same conference table is crucial for preventing miscommunication and fostering predictability among neighbors.

Among the participants, Bosnia-Herzegovina, a member of NATO’s Partnership for Peace program, and Serbia — the only non-NATO country — stood out. Serbia, which traditionally maintains close ties with Russia, was bombed by NATO members a little more than a quarter-century ago. The presence of senior NATO commanders sent a clear message of commitment to maintaining military dialogue despite deep-rooted historical and political divisions.

Officials confirmed that Greece will host the 19th Balkan CHODs Conference in 2026, continuing the tradition of rotating venues to encourage inclusivity and shared responsibility for regional security.

To close the event, Turkish Chief of General Staff Gen. Metin Gürak, along with NATO and Balkan military leaders, visited the Baykar Özdemir Bayraktar National Technology Center — showcasing Turkey’s growing defense-industrial ambitions and its leadership role in the region.

Cem Devrim Yaylali is a Turkey correspondent for Defense News. He is a keen photographer of military ships and has a passion for writing about naval and defense issues. He was born in Paris, France, and resides in Istanbul, Turkey. He is married with one son.

伊斯坦布尔——在欧洲地缘政治摩擦再度加剧之际，巴尔干军事领导人在伊斯坦布尔举行会议，重申合作，这在仍笼罩着历史紧张局势的该地区展现了罕见的团结。

5月28日，土耳其在伊斯坦布尔主办了第18届巴尔干地区国防部长会议。来自阿尔巴尼亚、波斯尼亚和黑塞哥维那、保加利亚、希腊、北马其顿、罗马尼亚、塞尔维亚和黑山的军事领导人与来自斯洛文尼亚和克罗地亚的观察员齐聚一堂。北约军事委员会主席和北约那不勒斯联合部队司令部副司令也出席了会议。

乍看之下，这似乎只是一次普通的高级别军事会议，但其象征意义和时机都意义重大。巴尔干地区——历史上欧洲冲突频发的地区之一——如今再次成为地缘政治的焦点，乌克兰战争持续不断，北约与俄罗斯之间的紧张局势不断升级，美国在欧洲的安全承诺也在不断变化。

土耳其官员利用这一平台提出了建立北约应对无人威胁卓越中心的计划，强调了全球对现代战争中无人机和自主系统的战略使用日益增长的担忧——从顿巴斯地区到红海地区。

会议期间，与会者回顾了土耳其近期主办的多国军事教育项目和演习的成果，包括特种部队训练和计算机辅助指挥所演练。会议通过评估协调和工作组活动，包括对年度报告和联合演习作战成果的审核，对上届峰会以来的进展情况进行了评估。与会者重申了深化军事关系、拓展现有合作以及探索新的合作途径的共同承诺。土耳其副总统杰夫德特·耶尔马兹也在会上发表了讲话。

在巴尔干地区，民族主义紧张局势可能持续多年，并迅速失控。长期存在争端的国家能否坐到同一张谈判桌前，对于防止沟通不畅和促进邻国间的可预测性至关重要。

与会者中，北约“和平伙伴关系计划”成员国波斯尼亚和黑塞哥维那以及唯一的非北约成员国塞尔维亚尤为引人注目。塞尔维亚历来与俄罗斯保持着密切联系，但在二十五年前曾遭到北约成员国的轰炸。北约高级指挥官的出席清晰地表明，尽管存在根深蒂固的历史和政治分歧，各方仍致力于维持军事对话。

官方确认，希腊将于 2026 年主办第 19 届巴尔干 CHODs 会议，延续轮流举办会议的传统，以鼓励包容性和共同承担区域安全责任。

活动闭幕之际，土耳其总参谋长梅廷·居拉克将军与北约和巴尔干军事领导人一起参观了拜卡尔·厄兹德米尔·拜拉克塔尔国家技术中心，展示了土耳其日益增长的国防工业雄心及其在该地区的领导地位。

杰姆·德夫里姆·亚伊拉利是《防务新闻》驻土耳其记者。他热衷于拍摄军舰，并对海军和国防议题充满热情。他出生于法国巴黎，现居土耳其伊斯坦布尔。他已婚，育有一子。