Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić used the promotion ceremony of new Serbian Army officers to reiterate Serbia’s territorial claims over Kosovo, declaring that “Kosovo is ours” and stating that Serbia is acquiring “the best weapons” in response to developments in the region.
During the ceremony at the “General Jovan Mišković” military barracks in Banjica, where 130 new officers were commissioned, Vučić urged the cadets to defend “every inch” of what Serbia considers its territory. He linked this message to Serbia’s claim over Kosovo, asserting that it belongs to Serbia “both under the Constitution and under God’s justice,” Serbian media reported.
“Kosovo is ours both under the Constitution and under God’s justice, and we must remember and preserve that,” Vučić said, repeating Belgrade’s longstanding official position, which conflicts with Kosovo’s statehood and its recognition as an independent country by the majority of Western nations.
Vučić also claimed that “alliances are being formed” against Serbia in the region, referring to the defense cooperation agreement between Kosovo, Albania, and Croatia, and used this as justification for accelerating Serbia’s military modernization.
“They formed alliances against us in the region. We understood those messages and began equipping ourselves with the best weapons,” he said, portraying Serbia’s military buildup as a response to regional developments.
Addressing the newly commissioned officers, Vučić said they would face “pressures” because of their duty to defend Serbia’s territorial integrity, a statement that also alluded to Belgrade’s continued claims over Kosovo.
The ceremony was attended by Serbia’s top state and military leadership, including Patriarch Porfirije, Speaker of Parliament Ana Brnabić, Prime Minister Đuro Macut, Defense Minister Bratislav Gašić, and Chief of the General Staff Milan Mojsilović.
Among the 130 cadets was Predrag Gjuričić, introduced by Serbian authorities as a cadet “from Kosovo.”
