Vucic: Military Conscription Most Likely To Be Reintroduced as of Next March

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic (BETAPHOTO/PREDSEDNISTVO REPUBLIKE SRBIJE/Dimitrije Goll)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic on April 14 said that compulsory military service would most likely be reintroduced as of March 2027, adding that it would “make the country much stronger.” 

“I think it is realistic to expect that all work regarding the recruitment lists will be completed by September or October this year, and that conscription will be reinstated as of March 1,” Vucic said after touring the new barracks in Belgrade for the Cobras, the Military Police Special Operations Unit. Vucic added that military service would last 75 days and that it would be “a piece of cake” compared to earlier 365-day service. 

“Nevertheless, those young men will acquire new habits, become more responsible and serious, they will acquire some life habits and learn what the state is. And the state will be much stronger,” Vucic noted. He also said that special attention would be paid to building army barracks in the border areas.

“This would also benefit local self-governments. The servicemen will have their salaries, they will be spending their money in the place where they will be stationed, their families will be visiting them, and someone will also have to provide food for them. Those towns will actually have a new factory,” Vucic explained. 

Commenting on criticism over Serbia’s plans to together with Israel build a plant for making military type drones, Vucic said he could not understand whether he was being criticized or praised, because he was proud of that achievement as it would enable Serbia to have “the best drones in this part of the world.”