Vucic: We are very concerned over regional military alliances formed against Serbia

BELGRADE - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Thursday he was very satisfied with the results of the Serbian army but that there was great concern over regional military alliances formed against Serbia, and noted that Serbia's defence capabilities had been boosted drastically as a result.

"We are very concerned over the formation of military alliances against Serbia in our neighbourhood and, accordingly, we are acting in a responsible and serious manner while not provoking anyone, but we want to deter anyone who would commit an aggression on our country. Our defence capacities have been increased drastically and dramatically both in the air force and the anti-aircraft defence," Vucic said at the Guard House of the Serbian Armed Forces, adding that, in the coming years, the same would be the case with all other systems in all other branches and combat arms of the Serbian military.

After attending a reporting on the state and the operating and functional capabilities of the Serbian Armed Forces in 2025, Vucic told reporters he was very satisfied with the results the army was achieving.

"We have record-high expenditures of around 2.65 pct of GDP for the defence and security system, or even slightly more than that, but not in the most direct manner. Interestingly, investments account for as much as 54.1 pct of that large amount of money," Vucic said.

Vucic: Compulsory military service to begin in December or in March next year

BELGRADE - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Thursday a decision on whether compulsory military service in Serbia would begin in December or in March next year was due in a month or two, and added that registration of those subject to military service would start in September or October.

After Serbian Armed Forces Chief of General Staff Gen Milan Mojsilovic delivered a report on the state and the operating and functional capabilities of the army in 2025, Vucic told reporters a decision on the matter would be tabled to the Serbian parliament.

"We discussed military service, the 75 days. We will be making a decision soon. There is a question of whether official service will begin in December or in March but, in any case, we will make a decision in a month or two and table it to the National Assembly of Serbia. In September or October, we will start registering those subject to military service," Vucic said.

He explained that the timing of the start of compulsory military service depended on preparations.

"We need to get all facilities ready, we need to prepare enough of everything - rifles, boots, recruitment centres, registration centres. We need to improve outpatient offices and to renovate them and arrange them differently. To us, those are important matters and we want to be prepared for those young people to spend the two and a half months in the best conditions, to have the best memories of that and to become responsible and serious," Vucic said.

Patriotism should constitute an important part of understanding the army's role in society, he added.