Croatia
Croatia has officially reinstated mandatory military service, requiring 19-year-olds to undergo two months of basic training starting in early 2026. The move, backed by the ruling HDZ and the Homeland Movement, signals a renewed emphasis on national defense readiness.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Production at Ginex, one of Bosnia’s key defense manufacturers, has been halted as workers protest over pay and demand the Supervisory Board convene after rejecting a wage proposal aligned with the metal industry’s collective agreement.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
NATO’s approval of the first Individual Tailored Partnership Programme with Bosnia and Herzegovina represents a historic advance in the country’s path toward membership, reinforcing defense cooperation and aligning national institutions with Alliance standards.
Romania
BUCHAREST — South Korea’s Hanwha Aerospace will begin construction of its long-anticipated defense production plant in Romania in the first quarter of 2026, marking one of the largest defense industrial investments in Eastern Europe. The Romanian Ministry of Economy confirmed the timeline this week, noting that the new factory will
Serbia
Artillery units from Serbia and Azerbaijan conducted a joint two-week training on the 155mm B-52 Nora self-propelled howitzer at Serbia’s Pasuljanske livade range, showcasing deepening defense cooperation and interoperability between the two countries.
Hungary
Colonel General Gábor Böröndi met with U.S. Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan Caine in Washington to discuss global security challenges and the expansion of Hungarian–American military cooperation.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Tvek’s KM 8.5 million expansion in Ljubija adds military explosive production to the factory’s existing mining services, officials say.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia’s Federal Police launched operation “Barut” over the controversial sale of the Vitezit arms factory, arresting four people and raiding several locations across Central Bosnia. The investigation targets illegal arms dealings linked to Croatian businessman Zvonko Zubak.
Slovenia
Slovenia launched its first International Defence, Security, and Rescue Fair (SIDEC 2025) in Celje, featuring over 170 companies from 20 countries and marking a major step in the country’s defence industrial ambitions.
Croatia
Croatia and Hungary agreed to deepen defense and industrial cooperation, with Budapest continuing to secure Croatian airspace until new Rafales arrive, emphasizing joint efforts to strengthen Central and Southeast Europe’s security.
Kosovo
Türkiye’s state-owned MKE will build an ammunition plant in Kosovo with a 20-million-cartridge annual capacity by 2026, deepening Ankara’s defense presence in the Balkans.
Czech Republic
Czechia will gift Ukraine a modern Earth observation satellite — the first country to do so — underscoring its commitment to Ukraine’s resilience and Europe’s security.