site.btaMandatory Military Service in Serbia to Begin in December 2026 or March 2027, President Vucic Says

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said that mandatory military service in the country will start either in December 2026 or in March 2027, Serbian public broadcaster Radio Television of Serbia reported.

The decision on when conscription will begin depends on the readiness of capacities and military facilities, Vucic said. "We will make this decision soon, within the next month or two, we will turn to Parliament and begin registering conscripts," he said after a meeting with military leadership on the state of affairs and an analysis of the capabilities of the Serbian Armed Forces for 2025.

The Serbian President recalled that the duration of military service will be 75 days. "We need to prepare all facilities; we have sufficient weapons, but there are some things that are still not fully ready," he said.

Vucic added that recruitment centres need to be renovated, as well as clinics improved and refurbished. "These are important issues, because we want to be fully prepared and for these young people to perform their military service under the best possible conditions, to gain the necessary sense of responsibility and seriousness, and to develop a patriotic attitude," he said.

The introduction of mandatory military service must be approved by the National Assembly of Serbia through the adoption of a law.