Media in Southeast Europe: Common Narratives in NATO Members, Serbia Stands Out · Defence & Security · 2026
Media in Southeast Europe: Common Narratives in NATO Members, Serbia Stands Out
How Bulgaria, Greece, Romania and Serbia covered defence and security in Q1 2026
How did Bulgarian, Greek, Romanian, and Serbian media cover defence and security in the first quarter of 2026? The patterns reveal more than shared concerns - they reveal a region navigating geopolitical pressure in very different ways.
Perceptica monitored 4,221 publications across four countries from January to March 2026. Three dominant themes shaped regional coverage: geopolitical tensions and regional instability, international cooperation and joint defence initiatives, and defence modernisation and procurement. While Bulgaria, Greece, and Romania converged on a broadly unified narrative, Serbia's media told a strikingly different story.
Methodology
Defence and security coverage in Bulgarian, Greek, Romanian and Serbian media from January to March 2026 (Q1), covering 4,221 publications. Part of the Defence & Security in Southeast Europe - 2026 Edition published by SeeNext.
Here are some key takeaways from the report:
- Geopolitical tensions dominate coverage in NATO members - 63% of defence coverage in Greece and 61% in Romania, while Bulgaria tells a more fragmented story.
- Serbia constructs a distinct narrative around military readiness and an 'island of stability' framing that sets it apart from its NATO neighbours.
- Defence procurement diverges country by country - from F-16 delays to Chinese supersonic missiles, the data shows how each country frames modernisation and arms deals.
- NATO members vs a non-member state - the report reveals how the same regional pressures are processed in fundamentally different ways across the four media landscapes.
Key findings
- 4,221 publications monitored in Bulgaria, Greece, Romania and Serbia.
- Geopolitical tensions made up 63% of defence coverage in Greece and 61% in Romania.
- Three dominant themes: geopolitical tensions and regional instability, international cooperation and joint defence initiatives, and defence modernisation and procurement.
- Serbian media built a distinct narrative around military readiness and an 'island of stability' framing.
Cite this report
Perceptica (2026). Media in Southeast Europe: Common Narratives in NATO Members, Serbia Stands Out. https://perceptica.com/reports/media-in-southeast-europe-common-narratives-in-nato-members
Journalists: you may quote these findings with a link to this page.
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