Croatia cancels Balkans Summit amid tensions with Serbia
Croatia has canceled a planned Western Balkans summit after President Zoran Milanovic cited concerns over recent statements by Serbia’s leadership that he said threaten regional stability.
The decision halts the upcoming Brdo-Brijuni summit, an annual meeting aimed at strengthening cooperation and supporting European Union integration among Balkan states.
According to AFP, Milanovic said Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic would not be able to visit Croatia under current circumstances, accusing his recent actions of undermining relations and peace in Southeast Europe. He did not specify the remarks in question but indicated the summit could be rescheduled once conditions improve, in consultation with Slovenia’s President Natasa Pirc Musar.
Vucic responded by backing the decision, stating he agreed he should not attend. Tensions have recently escalated after he accused Croatia, Albania, and Kosovo of forming a military alliance against Serbia—an allegation linked to a 2025 defense cooperation agreement among those countries. He also raised concerns about potential conflict in the region during comments to domestic media and in discussions with Vladimir Putin.
Relations between Serbia and Croatia remain strained, rooted in the conflicts of the 1990s, and the latest developments highlight ongoing political tensions in the Western Balkans.
