Western Balkans countries have recently been actively investing in the defense sphere, the region is returning to the obligatory military service.
The ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and in the Middle East, the growth of the number of crisis points and the deterioration of security situation around the world force many countries to think about their military potential. New investment investments in the defense sphere were also initiated by Western Balkans.
Croatia, Slovenia, Montenegro, Albania and Northern Macedonia, NATO member countries, increase their military budgets, and Serbia and Kosovo, which are not members of the Alliance, went in the same way. At the same time, Bosnia and Herzegovin, not a NATO member country, was left behind in this matter. Along with investing in the sphere of defense, Serbia and Croatia, they also plan to return the obligatory military service.
Serbia
Serbia, known for its neutral position in relation to military blocs among the countries of the former Yugoslavia, has recently attracted attention to both the Rafale -type combat aircraft purchased in France and the return to mandatory military service. Serbia President Aleksandar Vuchich said that he approved the resumption of mandatory military service in the country lasting 75 days, canceled in 2010. According to the Ministry of Defense and the Army of Serbia, the share of investment in the country’s military budget this year is 37.9 percent.
Croatia
Croatia, a member of NATO and the European Union (EU), returns the draft for military service from January 1, 2025, which was canceled in 2008. Country Minister of Defense Ivan Anushich said that at the beginning of 2025 he was introducing mandatory military service lasting 60 days.
In recent years, Croatia has purchased Bradley armored vehicles from the United States, and France has combat aircraft like Rafale, calling these initiatives to “modernize” the army. According to the Croatian Ministry of Defense, the country’s military budget in 2024, as part of the army’s modernization, increased by 622 percent compared to 2016.
Montenegro and Slovenia
Montenegro and Slovenia are also among the countries that increased their military budgets. Montenegro, which became a member of NATO in 2017 and the process of membership in the EU which is still ongoing, allocated at least 2 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) to the field of defense. The Ministry of Defense of Montenegro reported plans to allocate 35.7 percent from the 2024 military budget for investments. On the agenda in the country there are new purchases of military equipment, including patrol boats and helicopters. Montenegro canceled the obligatory military service in 2006. Unlike Serbia and Croatia, the return of this practice is not on the agenda of the country.
Another country in the region of Slovenia, a member of NATO and the EU, also included a list of those who increased their military budget in 2024. Slovenia is one of the countries that do not plan to return the mandatory military service canceled in 2003.