Vucic: Very concerned about military alliances in the neighborhood against Serbia, decision on mandatory military service soon

We are very concerned about the formation of military alliances against Serbia in our neighborhood, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said after attending a briefing on the results of the analysis of the situation and the operational and functional capabilities of the Serbian Armed Forces for 2025. Vucic announced that a decision on mandatory military service would be made soon.

“In line with that, we are acting seriously and responsibly, not provoking anyone, and seeking to deter a potential aggressor,” Vucic said.

He stressed that the capacities of the Air Force and Air Defense have been drastically increased and that they will be further strengthened in the coming period.

He said that the meeting also discussed a 75-day period of military service.

“We will be making decisions soon. The question is whether military service will begin in December or March. In any case, in the next month or two we will make a decision and submit it to the Assembly, and from September we will begin registration,” Vucic explained.

Asked what it depends on whether official military service will begin in March or October, he said it depends solely on when everything will be prepared so that young people can spend two and a half months in appropriate conditions.

“It depends on our preparedness. We have to prepare all facilities and ensure there is enough of everything. Rifles and boots are ready, but some things are not yet. We need to improve and renovate recruitment centers and medical clinics. These are important issues for us. We want to welcome these young people fully prepared, so that they spend two and a half months in the best possible conditions, so that it remains a good memory for them, that they gain responsibility, seriousness and patriotism, and understand the role of the military in society,” Vucic said.

He pointed out that the meeting analyzed the results achieved by the Serbian Armed Forces over the past year.

“We always assess operational and combat capabilities and all other capabilities of the Armed Forces, as well as the state of war reserves. We analyze what weapons and equipment we need and assess the security environment in the region. I am very satisfied,” Vucic emphasized.

The President noted that Serbia has record spending on the defense and security system amounting to 2.65 percent of GDP.

“Of that large sum, 54.1 percent are investments, only 32.5 percent are personnel expenses, and the rest are operating costs. That clearly shows the scale of investment,” he explained, adding that Serbia wants to preserve peace and that the only way to do so is to be a deterrent factor.

He said that the military parade held in September was very positively evaluated, as was the seriousness of members of the Serbian Armed Forces over the past year.

He added that it was agreed to further increase the number of members of special and other units and announced the establishment of new units.

Asked about the chanting of Ustasha slogans after the victory of Croatian handball players over Hungary, Vucic stated that Ustashism in Croatia is nothing new.

“I do not see anything new or anything changed. It is customary and we must get used to it. Even in the former Yugoslavia there was a desire to equate Chetniks and Ustashas, which have nothing to do with one another. I do not choose their ideology. I see no happiness in the ideology of fascism and Nazism. Serbs have always fought against Nazism and fascism and will always fight against them,” Vucic said.