Serbia has imported advanced weapons systems from at least 13 countries over the past five years, with China and Russia being the main suppliers, according to data published by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
The Swedish institute's report shows that China has been Serbia's largest partner in supplying medium-range air defense systems. Meanwhile, the largest military donations to Belgrade have come from Russia and Belarus.
According to security experts, Serbia has also exploited changes in global security and international conflicts to increase investments in armaments and modernize its military capabilities.
At the same time, analysts point out that Belgrade has also used regional developments to reinforce the narrative that the country is threatened by its neighbors. An example is the reaction of Serbian officials to security cooperation between Kosovo, Albania and Croatia, which Belgrade has presented as a threat to Serbia's security.
However, according to experts, this cooperation does not constitute a formal military alliance. It is mainly limited to joint exercises, training and coordination of security activities, which in most cases take place within the framework of NATO.
The report warns that the combination of increased military spending with harsh political rhetoric and sensationalist reporting could affect the perception of security in the region.
"A significant increase in percentages often seems dramatic, but when combined with harsh political rhetoric and sensationalist reporting, it creates a sense of insecurity among neighbors and serves as a justification for new military investments," the report said.
The analysis published by SIPRI assesses that these developments could affect the security dynamics in the Balkans, at a time when the region remains sensitive to political and geopolitical tensions.
Vucic accuses regional countries while Serbia itself arms itself
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić had previously accused the United States and Turkey of being directly involved in arming Kosovo.
"The Americans are arming Albanians in Kosovo, as is Turkey. The goal is an attack on Serbia and the Serbian population," Vučić declared.
Vučić has also accused Albania, Croatia and Kosovo of creating a "military alliance" aimed at endangering Serbia.
According to Vučić, the alliance was formed to anticipate the possibility of a conflict breaking out in Europe, so that, if this happens, the states that make up the alliance could attack Serbia from several different directions.
The narrative constructed by Vučić is not based on real arguments.
First, there is no evidence of an offensive intent, either documents or operational plans, to substantiate the claims that this cooperation was directed against Serbia.
Second, official statements from the parties involved deny this claim. Countries like Croatia and Albania, which are NATO members, have emphasized that the agreement does not threaten anyone.
Third, the attempt to present the alliance as an offensive plan contradicts the context of the foreign policy of NATO member countries./TheGeopost.
