Armament trends that are current especially after Ukraine and more recently with the conflicts in the Middle East, which are believed to increase the chances of breaking out of costly wars with the potential for escalation, do not go beyond the Balkans and Macedonia either.

Namely, in 2025, the countries of the former Yugoslavia will allocate around 1,8 billion euros for new armaments. From the stated amount, Serbia allocates almost one billion euros, which is the most logical since it is the largest and most populated, and has the largest army. A good part of the total number goes to the repayment of the Rafale planes that Serbia and Croatia bought in the past period, as well as to the missile systems that these two countries acquired recently.

As the portal writes "Balkan Security Network" The ex-EU countries, including Macedonia, will invest mostly in ammunition and other techniques for military needs when purchasing weapons.

For Serbia, the Rafale planes are the biggest expenditure in the budget

Well, according to the renowned portal that deals with security topics, it says that in the next twelve months, Serbia will allocate 971 million euros for the purchase of material and technical means for various purposes. For now, as the portal states, there is no information on what is being procured in the Serbian budget, except that the second installment for 12 Rafale fighter jets worth over 470 million euros was specified.

It is quite certain that a good part, i.e. 319,6 million euros, will have to be taken into account for the fresh order of the Israeli weapons that Serbia ordered, i.e. for the multi-barrel rocket launchers "PULS" and Hermes 900 drones. The portal states that the rest are payments for previous contracts for example for China's HQ-17AE air defense missile system and domestic equipment of M-19 automatic rifles, self-propelled howitzers Nora-B52 and as well as for the combat vehicles of the Lazar and Milos families, etc.

After the Rafales, Croatia decided on the expensive German Leopard tank

Next on the list are countries from the region that will spend on weapons next year Croatia. Namely Zagreb spent more than 245 million euros specifically for military equipment and other costs for the procurement of material and technical assets. Narrowly defined, 232,8 million euros are planned for military equipment, the largest amount of which will go to the purchase of the German Leopard 2A8 tanks.

First on the list in terms of costs is the initiation of the procurement of a main battle tank for the Croatian army from Germany. So in the villagein the ice year, 144,9 million euros will be spent for that purpose. The procedure will first be started by the German Ministry of Defense where it has to deliver to the Croatian Ministry of Defense the amount that it has to pay in exchange for the 30 M-84 tanks and the 30 M-80 infantry fighting vehicles that will go to the Ukrainian army. Then, from the budget for 2026 and 2027, Croatia will pay Germany 145,1 or 390,1 million euros for the tanks.

The Macedonian army in anticipation of "Stryker"

Macedonian ambitions in terms of modernization in the coming year will cost around 140,69 million euros, states the portal. The list of military equipment paid for through multi-year programs includes US-made JLTV and Stryker combat vehicles whose delivery is underway, four Italian AW149 and four AW169M helicopters (scheduled for delivery in 2026-2028), Turkish Boran howitzers from 105 mm.

At the same time, according to the plan for the modernization and equipping of the army in the period 2019 - 2032, soon purchases are expected in almost all branches of the army, while the weapons meet the NATO standard of armament.

Among the most significant purchases is the purchase of 8 Western-made multirole military helicopters, which will replace the 12 Mi-24 helicopters donated to Ukraine, which have been out of service for years. Additionally qhelicopters, armored combat vehicles and modern anti-aircraft defense systems as well as various infantry weapons are being procured. Through this development "long-term plan 2022-2023" modernization and equipping of the army will be carried out, which will continuously change the face of the army and increase its combat readiness.

Of what is expected to arrive in the country soon is the first part of the contingent of a total of 54 armored vehicles of the type "Striker" (Stryker Infantry carrier vehicle), which is produced by the company General Dynamics, and whose purchase will be in 2020. the Defense Security Cooperation Agency also confirmed. Although there are many versions specialized for various tasks, these vehicles will come in three varieties: command vehicles, a mortar version and a basic armored personnel carrier.

Montenegro is strengthening its navy

Furthermore, Montenegro made an important purchase of weapons, which is mainly paid for through loans. Thus, in the defense budget for 2025 of this country, a modest 7,4 million euros are provided for modernization and infrastructure. The state treasury will cover part of the costs for the purchase of two patrol boats from France for 120 million euros according to the agreement signed in November of this year.

In the coming year, it is planned to take a loan of 75 million euros for the purchase of weapons and up to 50 million euros for two helicopters.

American anti-tank systems in BiH

Complex state regulation is an obstacle to a broader consensus in Bosnia and Herzegovina among all entities in society on arms procurement. However, sometime at the end of last year, an agreement was reached for the purchase of military equipment from the United States. According to the Chief of Staff of the Joint Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Senad Masovic, the purchase of Javelin anti-tank systems has been agreed upon. Representatives of BiH and the United States also discussed the procurement of anti-aircraft defense systems and short- and medium-range missiles.

The purchase of "Bajraktar" in Albania before implementation?

In Albania, the purchase of six Bajraktar drones, which Albania should purchase from Turkiye, is the current issue. The Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama, said that during his last visit to Turkiye, the purchase of the drones was discussed. Albania will pay six million euros for the six drones. Drones should have a multiple purpose, that is, tracking wanted persons and controlling the territory of the state.

Purchase of nine million euros in Kosovo

The youngest European state, Kosovo, plans to spend around nine million euros, funds that will be earmarked for arming Kosovo, mainly for the border police. Some time ago, weapons worth 1,6 million euros, armored vehicles, water cannons and armored limousines worth 7,1 million euros, as well as specialized equipment worth 280.000 euros, were purchased.

900 million euros for the modernization of the army in the next 10 years