Vučić warns of increasing Chinese missiles and buying fighter jets, Rexhepi raises alarm over consequences in the region

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić has announced that Serbia “will increase the number” of Chinese CM-400 missiles and, at the same time, will also acquire new military aircraft.

He made these statements during a military exercise and a presentation of the Serbian Army’s weaponry. The event was held on June 28 at the military airport in Batajnica, near Belgrade, as well as at the Pasuljanske Livade training ground in central Serbia, as part of the state and religious holiday of Vidovdan.

In a statement to “Bota sot,” former investigator Agim Rexhepi said that Vučić’s announcements of new armaments should not be treated as a routine modernization process, but as a development that requires concern and vigilance, especially in light of the attack in Banjska.

According to Rexhepi, Serbia is continuing along the path of militarization and keeping threatening rhetoric alive, which is why these moves should be taken seriously by Kosovo’s institutions and international partners.

“The statements by Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić about expanding the military arsenal, including Chinese CM-400 missiles and the purchase of new fighter aircraft, cannot be viewed as an isolated technical development or as routine military modernization. When such statements come from a state that still refuses to recognize Kosovo’s independence, that continues threatening rhetoric toward its neighbors, and that has not been held accountable for the terrorist attack in Banjska in September 2023, then they constitute a legitimate reason for vigilance and concern.

Kosovo is not guided by fear, but by an analysis of the facts. The facts show that Serbia, instead of building trust through dialogue and regional cooperation, continues to invest in militarization and in rhetoric that is often aimed at demonstrating القوة. No one can forget that in Banjska we saw a well-organized attack, with heavy weaponry and a paramilitary structure, which proved that the threats to Kosovo’s security are not merely theoretical, but have taken concrete form.

Therefore, when after that episode we hear warnings about increasing missiles and advancing military capacities, it is entirely normal for Kosovo’s institutions and international partners to analyze them seriously. The problem is not only the possession of weapons, but the way they are accompanied by a political discourse that often produces tensions and aims to pressure neighbors”, he said.

Rexhepi further stresses that Serbia’s military rapprochement with China brings a new element of risk to the Balkans, as Belgrade is expanding ties with actors outside the Euro-Atlantic orientation.

He underlines that such a development raises serious questions about stability in the region.

“Serbia’s military cooperation with China also represents a new security dimension in the Balkans. At a time when most countries in the region have a Euro-Atlantic orientation and are investing in interoperability with NATO, Serbia is expanding military cooperation with actors whose geopolitical interests differ from those of the European Union and the Atlantic Alliance. This creates concerns not only for Kosovo, but also for regional stability.

However, Serbia must understand that the time when military pressure could be exerted against Kosovo is over. Kosovo today is a state with functional security institutions, with a professional police force, with a Security Force that is developing according to NATO standards and, above all, with the unwavering support of its strategic allies, first and foremost the United States of America and NATO’s mission in Kosovo, KFOR”, he stated.

In the end, Rexhepi said that the Government of Kosovo is not an instigator of conflicts, but neither does it accept any violation of sovereignty and constitutional order, acting in coordination with international partners, especially after the attack in Banjska.

According to him, peace in the region is not built through armament, but through mutual recognition and respect for states. He added that as long as Serbia gives greater priority to military strengthening than to building political trust, it will continue to cause concern in the region, while Kosovo will continue strengthening security in coordination with its allies.

“The Government of Kosovo has proven that it does not provoke conflicts, but it also does not tolerate violations of the country’s constitutional order and sovereignty. The professional response of the institutions after the attack in Banjska showed that the state is capable of protecting its territory and its citizens, acting in full coordination with international partners.

Peace in the Balkans is not built through arms races, but through mutual recognition, respect for sovereignty and accountability for acts of violence. As long as Serbia invests more in demonstrating military power than in building political trust, it will continue to generate justified concerns for its neighbors.

Kosovo will continue to invest in security, in coordination with its allies, not to threaten anyone, but to guarantee that no one dares threaten the freedom, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Kosovo. This is the path of a democratic and responsible state, in contrast to the rhetoric of militarization that is periodically heard from Belgrade,” he concluded for “Bota sot.”