Serbia eliminated compulsory military service in 2010.
The Serbian government has decided to bring back conscription, which was eliminated 14 years ago.
Following a meeting on Friday, the government established a working group responsible for “examining activities and measures” aimed at reinstating a 75-day compulsory military service for men. Women will continue to have the option of serving voluntarily.
The reform aims to modernize Serbia’s armed forces and strengthen its defenses against potential aggression, stated Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic at a military ceremony in Batajnica.
The decision to reintroduce conscription comes amid escalating tensions between Belgrade and its breakaway region of Kosovo, where local Serbs have been protesting against the Albanian-led government. Last week, Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vulin expressed concerns about a potential escalation and emphasized that Belgrade would not stand by “when violence is used against Serbs.”
Serbia is not a member of NATO, but maintains working relationships with the US-led bloc despite the 1999 bombing campaign carried out by NATO in support of an ethnic Albanian separatist insurgency in Kosovo.
Belgrade officials have stressed that the nation will continue to uphold “military neutrality” in response to the Ukraine conflict and tensions between NATO and Russia. Serbia has also committed to preserving its historical friendly ties with Russia and has refused to participate in Western sanctions against Moscow.