Serbia considers reinstating mandatory military service
Serbia has greenlit a strategy to reintroduce mandatory military service. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
Belgrade has made the decision to reintroduce conscription, which was abolished in 2010.
Following a meeting on Friday, the Serbian government established a working group tasked with "reviewing activities and measures" to reinstate 75 days of compulsory military service for men. Women will still have the option to serve voluntarily.
According to Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, the reform aims to modernize the armed forces and bolster the country’s defenses against potential threats, as stated during a military ceremony in Batajnica.
The move to reinstate conscription occurs against a backdrop of heightened tensions between Belgrade and its breakaway region of Kosovo, where local Serbs are protesting against the Albanian-led government. Recently, Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vulin issued a warning about possible escalation and emphasized that Belgrade would not remain passive "when violence is used against Serbs."
Serbia is not a NATO member; however, it maintains working relations with the US-led alliance, despite the NATO bombing campaign in 1999, which was aimed at supporting an ethnic Albanian separatist movement in Kosovo.
Officials in Belgrade have reiterated the country's commitment to "military neutrality" in light of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and rising tensions between NATO and Russia. Serbia has also pledged to uphold its historically friendly relations with Russia and has chosen not to participate in Western sanctions against Moscow.
Emily Johnson contributed to this report for TROIB News
Following a meeting on Friday, the Serbian government established a working group tasked with "reviewing activities and measures" to reinstate 75 days of compulsory military service for men. Women will still have the option to serve voluntarily.
According to Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, the reform aims to modernize the armed forces and bolster the country’s defenses against potential threats, as stated during a military ceremony in Batajnica.
The move to reinstate conscription occurs against a backdrop of heightened tensions between Belgrade and its breakaway region of Kosovo, where local Serbs are protesting against the Albanian-led government. Recently, Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vulin issued a warning about possible escalation and emphasized that Belgrade would not remain passive "when violence is used against Serbs."
Serbia is not a NATO member; however, it maintains working relations with the US-led alliance, despite the NATO bombing campaign in 1999, which was aimed at supporting an ethnic Albanian separatist movement in Kosovo.
Officials in Belgrade have reiterated the country's commitment to "military neutrality" in light of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and rising tensions between NATO and Russia. Serbia has also pledged to uphold its historically friendly relations with Russia and has chosen not to participate in Western sanctions against Moscow.
Emily Johnson contributed to this report for TROIB News
