The primary objective is to verify the readiness and capabilities of the reserve soldiers.Continue reading
In Serbia, the introduction of conscription is aimed at increasing the country’s deterrent power and expanding the reserve force. Europe has become vulnerable to international developments in recent years. Hungary, in its capacity as EU president, is trying to find a response to this vulnerability, Tímea Zsivity, a researcher at the Eötvös József Research Center of the National University of Public Service, told Magyar Nemzet.
As it is known, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, as Commander-in-Chief of the Serbian Armed Forces, signed a document calling on the government to take urgent steps to introduce 75 days of military service. The service is for men aged between 19 and 27, but women can also join on a voluntary basis. The youngest generation who will be obliged to enlist will be those born in 2006. It is envisaged that it will be possible to postpone enlistment up to the age of 30 for justified reasons such as university studies or family reasons.
Bálint Pásztor, president of the Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians (VMSZ), said that
his party is against the reintroduction of conscription in Serbia, as the decision could lead to further emigration of Hungarians from Vojvodina.
The party president wants to negotiate various concessions. According to the Tímea Zsivity, the introduction of conscription would involve complicated practical steps, if it is adopted by parliament. These, she says, are currently surrounded by many question marks. There are eleven military facilities in Serbia that could be used for this purpose, but the logistics would also have to be organized. The authorities will have to determine exactly how many people will be affected, how many will meet the requirements, how many will undergo medical and psychological examinations. Another problem is that some of the young people resident in Serbia do not live in the country, while others have dual nationality. There are also questions about how the measure will affect Hungarians in Vojvodina.
According to the researcher,
this does not pose a security risk for Hungary, as it is in the interest of both Hungary and the EU to be surrounded by countries with stable and strong defense capabilities.
Moreover, the resolution of instability in the Balkans requires the countries of the region to have the capacity to deter. Serbia, Tímea Zsivity explained, is a militarily neutral country – like Austria and Switzerland – but it is not a member of NATO, and this kind of neutrality is very costly. In addition,
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán also announced military cooperation with Serbia in 2023.
Soon after, Serbia purchased BTR-80A armored infantry fighting vehicles and 2K12 KUB air defense systems from Hungary. Most recently, Serbia signed a contract in the last week of August to buy 12 new Rafale fighter aircraft from France. The expert noted that Serbia decided to purchase Rafale fighters after Croatia bought second-hand French aircraft. What is particularly interesting is that President Vučić announced the reintroduction of conscription after Croatia’s Defense Minister Ivan Anušić said that “Croatia will reintroduce two months of conscription from January 1, 2025.”
Tímea Zsivity finds it hard to imagine that Hungary will introduce compulsory conscription in the near future. Mostly neutral countries, where there is a high level of social support for this measure, or NATO member states located in war zones or areas of armed conflict, make use of this option. Hungary is constantly developing its defense forces, and defense spending in Hungary is at the NATO limit of two percent of GDP. The researcher explained that
Hungary is also working on EU defense policy as President-in-Office of the EU Council.
The Hungarian Presidency will focus on three main areas of common security and defense policy, he said:
The expert added that, while NATO provides collective defense for most member states, the EU wants to address hybrid threats, cyber security threats, organized crime and external border protection.
Via Magyar Nemzet; Featured image via honvedelem.hu