Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić said in a post on social media that his country is facing various political pressures from the region, directly mentioning Pristina, Tirana and Zagreb, and warned of new military purchases.
"The security situation is somewhat more complex than in January, when we addressed it, mainly due to further actions and activities of the military alliance of Pristina, Tirana and Zagreb. Our commitment to maintaining peace and stability has not changed, and we can only preserve it if we are strong enough," Vučić wrote on Facebook.
He added that, despite these developments, Serbian institutions will continue to work to strengthen the state and protect national interests in the region.
As Supreme Commander of the Serbian Armed Forces, he said he has proposed the adoption of a strategy for the robotization of these forces.
According to him, the plan includes the creation of military units equipped with robotic platforms and long-range attack drones, as well as the use of "flying" munitions.
He also announced the training of special reconnaissance units to determine the coordinates of targets for the use of artillery and aviation, as well as the expansion of the use of drones in other parts of the army.
Vučić said that these measures aim to modernize and increase Serbia's military capabilities.
"In the coming days, we will sign very important contracts for the procurement of weapons and military equipment. We expect important visits and new contracts with other countries, with the aim of placing large orders for our army. I believe that in the coming period, we will raise everything we have talked about today to a higher level," Vučić said.
"I think we will be one of the most interoperable and capable armies not only in our region, but also beyond," he added.
Who is Vučić referring to?
Last year, Kosovo and two Western Balkan countries that are part of NATO, Albania and Croatia, signed agreements to deepen cooperation in the field of defense and security.
Representatives of the three countries said at the time that they would increase the interoperability of their armies through education, training and joint exercises, as well as engage in combating hybrid threats.
They stressed that the alliance between them is not directed against anyone, but Vučić, on several occasions, described it as a threat to Serbia.
"We are preparing for their attack. They do not intend to defend themselves, but to attack. They are forming a military alliance to attack us," Vučić told Radio Television of Serbia on March 12.
What capabilities does the Serbian army possess?
Although it claims military neutrality, Serbia has the most expensive army in the Western Balkans.
According to data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), in 2024 alone, it spent $2.2 billion – about five times more than Albania, which ranks second in the region for military spending.
Last month, Vučić announced the purchase of supersonic ballistic missiles from China for his air force. Thus, it became the first power in Europe to be equipped with CM-400AKG air-to-surface missiles, which have a range of hundreds of kilometers.
Serbia has in its arsenal weapons from the West, such as Rafale jets, but also from Russia, such as the MiG-29./ REL
