Page 44 - bne magazine February 2024_20240206

44 I Southeast Europe bne February 2024
Serbia to ramp up military spending in 2024 in standoff with Kosovo
bne IntelliNews
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic announced on January 14 that the country will make its “largest investment so far” in military equipment in 2024.
Vucic made the announcement shortly after it was reported that the US will sell Javelin anti-tank missiles worth $75mn to Kosovo. Serbia does not recognise Kosovo, which unilaterally declared its independence from Belgrade in 2008, as an independent state. Recent months have seen several violent incidents between local Serbs in northern Kosovo and Kosovan law enforcers.
According to Vucic, the new equipment should arrive by the end of 2026, and
a new package of financial resources
is being prepared for that purpose,
a statement from the presidency said.
Speaking at the Duty Operations Centre of the Military Security Agency, Vucic strongly criticised the buildup of Kosovo’s armed forces, claiming that “they threaten regional security and stability”.
“The so-called Kosovo security forces, which cannot exist according to the norms of international public law and according to [UN] Resolution 1244 [which provides a framework for the resolution of the conflict in Kosovo] ... have a total of 223 armoured vehicles at the moment, together with the so-called Kosovo police,” said Vucic.
“The so-called Kosovo security forces, which cannot exist according to the norms of international public law and according to [UN] Resolution 1244 have a total of 223 armoured vehicles at the moment, together with the so-called Kosovo police”
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic outlined plans to invest in military hardware during a visit to the Duty Operations Centre of the Military Security Agency. / Serbian presidency
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