Vucic warns of “defensive dome” and strengthening of the army for political marketing

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has warned of “strengthening the army” and building a so-called “defensive dome” over Serbia, citing fears of a possible war between Europe and Russia. However, behind this rhetoric, it seems that there is more political marketing and an attempt to shift attention from the economic and social problems in the country, than any real concern for Serbia’s security.

While the Serbian president talks about “defending the country,” in reality the situation in Serbia’s military industry is alarming. According to information from the Association of Free and Independent Trade Unions, lists of workers who will be declared technologically redundant are being prepared in arms factories.

Military analyst Aleksandar Radic points out that warehouses are full due to the export ban imposed by Vucic himself, while factories like “Zastava oružje” in Kragujevac are barely surviving.

The double game with the West and Moscow

At the same time that in Serbia he talks about “independence and neutrality”, Vucic offers Europe ammunition reserves for export and declares that “there is no problem if Serbian ammunition ends up in Ukraine”.

These statements have caused strong reactions in Moscow – the spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, recalled that “Belgrade has pledged that Serbian weapons will not be sent to Ukraine” and accused Vucic of “speaking differently in Russia and in Europe”.

The rhetoric of fear as a political weapon

By talking about “preparations for war” and “defensive domes”, Vucic is spreading a narrative of fear that allows him to strengthen control over institutions and shift public attention from domestic problems.

At a time when workers are being laid off in Serbia, factories are being left without work, while citizens are facing rising prices and poverty, the president, instead of concrete solutions, offers militarization and empty patriotic slogans.