Serbia and Azerbaijan review defence cooperation framework in Belgrade

Serbia’s Minister of Defence Bratislav Gašić met in Belgrade with Agil Gurbanov, Deputy Minister of Defence of Azerbaijan, to review the current state of bilateral defence cooperation and discuss its further development.

The meeting, held at the Palace of Serbia, focused on advancing both the scope and depth of military collaboration between Serbia and Azerbaijan. According to the Serbian Ministry of Defence, the two sides examined mechanisms for expanding cooperation in areas of mutual interest and improving coordination through existing institutional frameworks.

Officials referenced the recently agreed 2026 bilateral military cooperation plan, signed in Baku earlier in the week, as a structured basis for future joint activities. The plan is expected to define specific engagements, including exchanges, training activities, and other forms of defence interaction over the coming year.

The Serbian side also underlined the broader political relationship between the two countries, describing bilateral ties as stable and supportive. Azerbaijani representatives, in turn, reaffirmed their readiness to continue practical cooperation within the defence sector.

The talks included senior Serbian Ministry of Defence officials responsible for material resources and development planning, indicating attention to potential industrial and capability-related aspects of cooperation.

For Serbia, engagement with Azerbaijan forms part of a broader effort to diversify defence partnerships beyond traditional Euro-Atlantic structures, while maintaining its policy of military neutrality. For Azerbaijan, cooperation with Serbia complements its expanding network of security relationships in Southeast Europe.

Although no new procurement decisions were announced, the meeting confirms continued institutional dialogue and signals intent to further operationalize the 2026 cooperation framework.