The president of Serbia said on Tuesday that the country is contemplating the reinstatement of mandatory military conscription, citing escalating tensions in the Balkans and other parts of Europe.
President Aleksandar Vucic said that high-ranking military officials provided him with compelling reasons to support the reinstatement of compulsory conscription, which was halted in 2011 in an effort to enhance the professionalism of the armed forces.
The Serbian president, who appealed to the general public, did not provide a specific timeframe for the return of the draft. He said that the plan, which has been strongly supported by his friends, would be put to a vote in the national parliament. This follows a prolonged campaign by nationalists advocating for its approval.
“We are not issuing any threats,” Vucic said while seeing a display of military equipment after his meeting with the commanders. “In the present day, the possession of a formidable military force is essential for the existence and sovereignty of a nation.”
“We will determine the duration of military duty, whether it will be 90, 100, or maybe 110 days,” Vucic said the press. “Additionally, I would want to know the specific timeline for its introduction, as well as the strategies for meeting the financial and logistical requirements.”
Opposition lawmakers and other opponents of a draft have raised concerns about the rationale for a military expansion, given that Serbia is almost encircled by NATO member nations possessing greater military capabilities in the event of a confrontation. Moreover, there are apprehensions over the government’s ability to finance an expanded military.
The Balkans have seen heightened tensions after the violent dissolution of the former Yugoslavia in the 1990s. Despite its nominal neutrality, the Serbian army has established strong connections with Russia, relying on it as its primary source for acquiring weapons, such as fighter planes and tanks.
Serbia, although actively pursuing European Union membership, has declined to implement sanctions on Russia in response to its incursion into Ukraine.
The main source of tension has been focused on Kosovo, a former province of Serbia that proclaimed independence in 2008. However, Serbia, together with its allies Russia and China, have refused to acknowledge this declaration. Over the last several months, Serbia has repeatedly heightened the preparedness of its military units stationed on the border with Kosovo.
In addition, Serbia has kept amicable ties with NATO, whose peacekeeping forces have been deployed in Kosovo since 1999, when the Western military alliance intervened to halt Serbia’s violent suppression of Kosovo Albanian rebels.
Bosnia is now experiencing volatility due to the actions of Milorad Dodik, the leader of the Bosnian Serb separatists. Dodik has been making threats to proclaim independence for the Serb-controlled portion of Bosnia and merge it with Serbia. Dodik attended Vucic during the meeting with military chiefs on Tuesday.
