Vucic: I expect the opening of Serbia’s first drone factory next year

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said today that the opening of Serbia’s first factory producing the most sophisticated drones is expected at the end of March or the beginning of April next year. The project, he noted, is being developed in cooperation with a major foreign power. Vucic stressed that Serbia must preserve peace at a time of heightened global tensions, particularly given that—considering its surroundings—the possibility of attacks on Serbian territory and the Serbian people cannot be ruled out.

Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony for a new building of the Ministry of Defence of Serbia and the General Staff of the Serbian Armed Forces in Belgrade, Vucic said that in the period ahead it will be necessary to improve staffing levels across many army units.

“We will invest the greatest amount of money and energy in building new units that will have a special role—operating the most advanced air-defense assets and our air force capabilities, including unmanned aerial vehicles and drones. We already have many UAVs in storage, including loitering munitions and other drones. We are buying more and will continue to do so, and at the end of March or the beginning of April I expect the opening of the first large drone factory in our country,” Vucic said.

He added that these are highly sophisticated drones—not the ‘Mosquito’ 1 or 2 models, with which the military is nevertheless satisfied.

“These are highly sophisticated drones developed with a major foreign power,” the Serbian president emphasized.

Vucic acknowledged his concern about the global situation, noting visible tensions everywhere—from the Middle East to the Far East—between various regional powers, alongside the Russia-Ukraine conflict and, as he put it, increasingly evident preparations for a Europe-Russia confrontation.

That is precisely why, he said, Serbia must preserve peace.

“We must extricate ourselves from all of this, and given our environment, we must not rule out the possibility of attacks on Serbian territory and the Serbian people. They did not form unnatural, indecent, and unprincipled military alliances without reason—they formed them because of Serbia. That is why we must remain vigilant, strong, and resilient,” Vucic underlined.

I Believe in a Victory for the Serb List

Vucic once again called on Serbs in Kosovo to turn out in tomorrow’s elections and vote for the Serb List.

“I would once again call on the Serbian people to vote for the Serb List. Look at how much effort Albin Kurti has invested, through his Serbian proxies, to secure the formation of a future government. I believe in Serbian unity, in the strength of the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija, and in the serious and capable individuals within the Serb List,” Vucic said.

He also pointed out that there is nothing negative to be said about members of the Serb List such as Zlatan Elek, Dragisa Milovic, and others, adding that younger members are progressing by learning from them.

“I am truly pleased with how they conducted the campaign. I call on all Serbs to support the Serbian people and vote for the Serb List. I believe in a victory for the Serb List,” Vucic concluded.

Serbia Has Only One Chair—Firm and Well-Founded

Responding to comments that he is seeking a “fifth chair in Africa,” on the grounds that Serbia can no longer sit on “four chairs” (the EU, the US, Russia, and China), Vucic said that those who fail to understand how complex state leadership is under current conditions talk nonsense about a fifth chair. Serbia, he said, has only one—its own chair.

“Serbia has one chair—its own—and has always had only one. Serbia’s problem, and the problem many have with Serbia, is precisely that it has only one chair. If there were five chairs and you pulled one away, Serbia would collapse. Serbia has one chair—firm and well-founded. It stands, and no one can destroy it,” Vucic said.

That chair, he explained, represents Serbian interests—its European path, cooperation with traditional friends such as China and Russia, and good relations with the United States.

“Of course, our country is a founding member of the Non-Aligned Movement, and I am a strong proponent of expanding our influence and policy engagement in Africa and Asia as well, because these are continents whose economies are growing faster—especially compared to Europe and even the United States. Asia is leading the way, and anyone who does not see or understand that does not deserve to run a country,” Vucic explained, adding that some view the state through the prism of personal animosity toward him.

He also announced that, as soon as his obligations allow, he plans to visit seven to ten African countries to renew friendships and enable Serbian companies to operate on the continent and increase their revenues.