Participation in Balkan Countries CHODs Conference
Wednesday, 3.6.2026 | International Co-operation
The Chief of the Serbian Armed Forces General Staff, General Milan Mojsilović, attended the 19th Balkan Countries Chiefs of Defence Conference, held today in Thessaloniki.
The central theme of this year’s gathering was the challenges and innovations in protecting civilians in the new conditions of warfare, and the Chiefs of Defence of the Balkan Countries had an opportunity to exchange opinions and views on other issues affecting the regional security.
Speaking about the challenges in protecting civilians in contemporary warfare, which is increasingly characterized by fight in an urban environment and the digital domain, with the use of unmanned systems, autonomous platforms and artificial intelligence, General Mojsilović emphasized that the boundary between military and civilian sphere is becoming less and less clear, and the consequences for the civilian population are becoming increasingly serious.
He assessed that the armed forces in the modern era will not be evaluated only for their technological advancement or firepower, but also for their capability to maintain full control over the use of force and protect the civilian population in complex conditions, and called upon the regional countries to exchange experiences in the fields of protecting civilian infrastructure, cybersecurity, crisis management, and the application of new technology.
In his speech, he pointed out the significance of regional cooperation, open dialogue and regular high-level contacts for preserving peace and security in the light of new security challenges that are also affecting our region, and invited his colleagues to attend the 20th Balkan Countries Chiefs of Defence Conference next year in Belgrade.
During his visit to Thessaloniki, General Mojsilović had separate bilateral meetings with the Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff, General Dimitrios Houpis, and the Chief of the General Staff of the Turkish Armed Forces, General Selçuk Bayraktaroğlu. During the meetings, he emphasized that the Serbian Armed Forces remain open to constructive collaboration in all areas of mutual interest.
The Balkan Countries Chiefs of Defence Conference is a regional initiative with the aim of strengthening military-to-military cooperation of the Balkan countries and discussing ways to respond to regional challenges, risks and threats. The conference brings together Chiefs of Defence of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Greece, Romania, North Macedonia, Serbia, Türkiye and Montenegro.
