Vucic confirms Serbia's extensive rearmament plans

(ANSA) - TRIESTE, 10 MAR - Serbia's commitment and determination to move forward with its plan to strongly rearmake and strengthen its Armed Forces was reaffirmed by President Aleksandar Vucic. Serbia is a militarily neutral country, but one that must look after its security and freedom and intends to be much stronger than other countries in the region, Vucic said during a visit today to the Military Technical Institute in Belgrade. Quoted in the media, the president stressed Serbia's willingness to equip itself with increasingly modern and sophisticated weaponry, particularly domestically produced missiles and drones. "Everyone thinks only of war. The arms race started a year and a half ago, but now it's crazy. Due to the fact that everyone thought that (Russian President Vladimir) Putin would be defeated easily (in Ukraine), and because they now see that it is not easy to defeat Putin, then there is widespread militarization with a huge increase in capabilities everywhere," Vucic said. At the same time, the president announced further salary increases to representatives of the Armed Forces and confirmed the government's intention to reintroduce compulsory conscription, probably lasting three months, extendable to six or nine months for those who wish to remain on a voluntary basis. (ANSA).