Serbian President Alexandar Vucic has signed a decree to reintroduce mandatory military service, marking the return of conscription after its abolition in 2011. The new measure mandates 75 days of military service for men, while women will have the option to serve voluntarily.
“We will not attack anyone, but we want to deter those who pose a threat to us,” Vucic stated, without specifying any particular source of threat. He emphasized the importance of maintaining a strong military force for the nation’s defense.
For the decree to take effect, it must be ratified by the Serbian government and parliament, where Vucic’s ruling party holds a substantial majority.
The move comes as military tensions rise across Europe, with several nations reconsidering or reinstating conscription. Croatia, a neighboring country, announced in August that it would bring back compulsory military service, set to begin on January 1, 2025, after discontinuing it in 2008. Croatia’s Defence Minister, Ivan Anusic, stated that the decision aligns with modernization plans and commitments to NATO. The Croatian conscription will require two months of service.
Across Europe, other countries are following similar paths. Latvia reinstated conscription in 2023 in response to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Norway, where military service is already mandatory, revealed plans to recruit an additional 20,000 personnel. In the United Kingdom, then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pledged in May to bring back conscription due to the “growing threat from authoritarian regimes” such as Russia, Iran, China, and North Korea. Germany is also debating various options for reinstating military service, while Lithuania has introduced a nine-month conscription period for young men finishing school.
The return of conscription in Serbia reflects broader regional and global security concerns, particularly considering Russia’s military intervention in Ukraine and the subsequent military build-up in the Balkans.
