As Europe's defence policy takes centre stage, the Western Balkans are not passive bystanders. Governments across the region are shifting the focus of defence modernisation from maintaining existing forces to upgrading military capabilities and reviving their defence industries.
The scale and direction of defence modernisation will shape how far the Western Balkans can support Europe's efforts to enhance defence readiness, including through modest but tangible support for Ukraine.
The most credible entry points are practical: defence-industrial cooperation (including co-production in bottleneck areas such as ammunition, propellants and maintenance capacity) alongside military mobility and dual-use infrastructure that strengthens reinforcement routes, linking the Adriatic to the Black Sea.
The Western Balkans contribute most to European security by keeping the region stable and predictable. If the Western Balkans cannot manage their own security, they become a standing liability for EU crisis management. If they can, they become a strategic asset for European defence.
