Serbia’s Vucic warns Europe is preparing for war with Russia
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Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic warns that European nations are preparing for war with Russia amid rising defense spending.
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Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic arrives at the Brdo-Brijuni, Process Leaders' Meeting in Golem, Albania, 50 kilometers (30 miles) west of the capital, Tirana , Albania on Monday, October 6, 2025 .(AP Photo/Vlasov Sulaj)
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has warned that military developments across the European continent suggest that countries are actively preparing for a potential war with Russia. Speaking in an interview with TV Pink, Vucic described the situation as increasingly serious and highlighted the scale of defense investments by European nations.
“When I compare the facts, I conclude that war between Europe and Russia is growing increasingly more probable, and this is not just empty talk,” Vucic said. “If you look at the facts, look at the Germans, they have already announced that they will invest 377 billion euros [$436 billion] in equipping their army over the next five years. This is not a defense budget, but specifically for equipping the army. That is four times Serbia's GDP.”
Vucic stressed that countries such as Romania, Poland, Finland, and others are also increasing military investments, signaling a broader European trend. “They are preparing for war or defense, as they say. The Russians are doing it too. What could come of this? Only conflict,” he added.
Serbia, according to Vucic, finds itself "between a hammer and an anvil," facing geopolitical pressure from all sides. He emphasized the need for Serbia to continue strengthening its military and economy while avoiding entanglement in armed conflict.
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NATO expansion fuels regional instability
On October 5, Vucic had previously urged Serbian citizens to remain calm and rational amid rising global tensions and surging defense budgets. He expressed concern about the consequences of Europe's growing militarization.
At the NATO summit held in The Hague on June 24–25, member states committed to increasing defense spending to 5% of GDP by 2035, more than double the current target of 2%, which many members have yet to meet.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly criticized NATO’s military expansion and activities near Russia’s western borders, warning that the alliance’s moves are contributing to an arms race and global instability.
As tensions mount, Vucic reiterated that Serbia must navigate its position carefully. While not a member of NATO or the European Union, Serbia has found itself increasingly pressured by ongoing geopolitical shifts. Vucic underlined Serbia’s goal of avoiding involvement in military conflicts while preserving its national security interests.
Read more: Europe considers deploying naval, air "deterrent forces" to Ukraine
