Vučić flexes muscles and rattles weapons with massive military parade in Belgrade

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić staged on Saturday (20 September) the largest parade in Serbia’s history, deploying 10,000 troops, 2,600 pieces of military equipment and a 300-metre Serbian flag. The display in Belgrade raised eyebrows in neighbouring countries and Brussels over the true intentions of the increasingly autocratic Serbian leader.

Vučić has recently raised tensions in the region, warning that the Balkans are being split into opposing military alliances and accusing neighbouring countries such as Croatia, Kosovo, Albania and Slovenia of aligning against Serbia.

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Only five months ago, Vučić was among the few European politicians to attend the parade on Moscow’s Red Square, while two weeks ago he was in Beijing for the Tiananmen military parade. Now he has organised his own Balkan copy.

Tanks, jeeps and soldiers marched through the centre of the Serbian capital under the bright sun on 20 September. Overhead, Russian MiG-29 fighter jets flew alongside French Rafale aircraft. The large-scale parade drew criticism from the opposition and demonstrators, who accused Vučić of politicising the armed forces.

This comes amid a wave of student protests that began in Serbia in November 2024. Public discontent escalated after the collapse of a recently renovated concrete structure at Novi Sad railway station, which killed 16 people. Vučić described the demonstrations as a “colour revolution” orchestrated by foreign powers.

Vučić called the parade a “source of pride for Serbia”. Around 10,000 troops and 2,600 pieces of equipment took part.

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Meanwhile, elsewhere in the capital, several hundred people staged a protest. Demonstrators once again demanded early elections and an effective fight against corruption.

In a statement, protesting students said: “The current government over the past 13 years has actively undermined the integrity, reputation, independence and apolitical character of our army.”

Police prevented demonstrators from approaching the parade. The gathering remained largely peaceful, with minor scuffles with the security forces before the crowd dispersed.

The government said the event was organised to mark the Day of Serbian Unity, Freedom and the National Flag.

“This is Serbia’s survival and victory. Serbia that wants peace and prosperity and knows how to preserve its dignity, territory and future,” Vučić wrote on Instagram shortly after the event.

The president has long insisted that Serbia must rearm. “Everyone is arming themselves to the teeth. The region is also rearming, and it is our duty not to lag behind,” he said in 2024.

This year Serbia is spending around $2.2 billion on defence, or about 2.6% of its gross domestic product (GDP).

The purchase of Rafale fighter jets, agreed during French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Serbia in August 2024, was seen by some experts as a strategic shift by Belgrade towards the West on defence matters. However, Vučić has continued to pursue a dual-track approach to foreign and defence policy, strengthening ties with both Russia and China.

Together with Russian President Vladimir Putin, he attended celebrations in China earlier this month marking the end of the Second World War, which also featured a large-scale military parade in Beijing. Serbia’s army also uses Chinese military equipment, including CH-92A combat drones.

Students blocking the University of Belgrade today asked on whose orders the police cordon surrounded a group of citizens who had come to attend the military parade at the students’ invitation.

“Despite the sincere desire of the citizens to support their army at the students’ invitation and to magnify the event with their presence, they were prevented from entering the public event,” they said on Instagram. They argued that the parade under the slogan The Power of Unity showed “unfortunately – everything but that”.

“Why, on the very day when we celebrate the unity and strength of the people, were citizens who peacefully and respectfully wanted to attend this event not welcome, and why was the gendarmerie sent against us?” asked the students in the blockade.

They organised a rally yesterday, 20 September, in New Belgrade during the military parade entitled The Power of Unity, but members of the gendarmerie suppressed them and prevented them from attending.

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Caption: Serbian army M-84 tanks are shown during the ‘Power of Unity’ military parade marking Unity, Freedom and National Flag Day in Belgrade, Serbia, 20 September 2025. Around 6,000 troops took part alongside 4,000 in support roles, with new weapons and vehicles displayed. EPA/ANDREJ CUKIC