Two countries mobilise to confront Russia

Serbia and Croatia prepare for a potential conflict: military service will be reinstated in these two European countries.

The duration of conscription in Croatia will be two months from 1st January, while in Serbia, it will be 75 days.

Serbia and Croatia are the two countries that will reintroduce the service after having abolished it respectively in 2011 and 2008. In Croatia's case, the announcement was made last August by its defence minister, Ivan Anusic.

"I believe that we will have better and stronger armed forces than before," he stated at the time.

From 1st January, military service for men in Croatia will last two months and will be reinstated for the first time in 16 years. It's following Russia's invasion of Ukraine that the Croatian government first considered implementing it.

In Serbia, military service returns after 13 years, although the measure announced by the president, Aleksandar Vučić, will need to be ratified by parliament. Mandatory for men, women will have the option to volunteer.

"We don't want to attack anyone. What we want is to deter all those who threaten us daily."

(MH with FM - Source: Agency - Photo: © Unsplash)