Petrovic: Citizens of Serbia support the introduction of military service

Predrag Petrovic from the Belgrade Center for Security Policy (BCSP) says for Kosovo Online that the actualization of the introduction of mandatory military service in Serbia is necessary due to the increasing outflow of personnel, as well as that the majority of citizens support the idea, but he warns that the youth, who are also the target group, are divided on this issue and that the majority does not show much interest.

Petrovic emphasized that bringing up the topic of reinstating mandatory military service pointed to the situation in the Serbian Army. The problem lies, as he explained, in the increasing and alarming outflow of personnel.

"Over the past five or more years, we regularly hear announcements that military service will be reintroduced, but it is, in fact, an attempt to address a truly alarming situation in the army. It is about the outflow of personnel, which is increasing," Petrovic said.

He added that by raising this topic, Serbia wanted to gauge the reactions of both domestic and international public opinion.

"I would interpret this as a trial balloon and testing the views of the domestic and international public on the reintroduction of military service in Serbia. It will be very difficult, as the majority of Serbian citizens are for the reintroduction of military service, but the young population, who are the target group for military service, has the most say," Petrovic pointed out.

He explained that young people in Serbia were divided on the issue of introducing military service, with a higher percentage opposing such a decision.

"They are divided on this issue. A slightly larger percentage of young people are against the reintroduction of military service, and we don't know how this situation will unfold in the future if a significant number of young people decide to express conscientious objection and refuse to serve military service under arms. We don't have answers to questions about how the entire structure will be financially resolved, considering that it costs millions and millions of euros," Petrovic said.