Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić has officially confirmed the reinstatement of compulsory military service in the country, which was abolished in 2011. According to the government’s plan, conscription will begin in 2026 and will apply to men aged 19 to 27.
The term of service will be 75 days: two months of intensive training and two weeks of field exercises. For women, service will remain voluntary. Those who refuse to serve with weapons on grounds of conscience will be able to choose alternative civilian service lasting more than 150 days.
Vučić explained this decision by the need to strengthen Serbia’s defense capabilities amid global instability, despite its status as a militarily neutral state. “We are not preparing for aggression, but we must be able to defend ourselves,” the president stressed.
The first conscripts are expected to arrive at the barracks in January or March 2026. Approximately €90 million has been allocated in the 2026–2028 budget for infrastructure restoration and conscription. Polls show high public support for the idea, at around 74–75%.