Serbia is modernizing it, and Kosovo is increasing its military

Army of Serbia and Army of Kosovo
Army of Serbia (Left) / Army of Kosovo (Right) / Photo Collage of the World Cup / Photo EPA

The modernization of the Serbian Army with the new technology will exceed the cost threshold of two billion euros, according to the money spent so far from 2016 and the plan for next year. writes the portal "Balkan Security Network".

After a long series of dry years with modest procurement costs for the Serbian Army, in December 2016 a rapid process of modernization began. In the period until 2020, according to the final budget accounts for the economic classification related to technology, the text states.

They remind of the growth of procurement that continued in 2021, and with additional money the defense budget of Serbia this year for the first time exceeded the limit of one billion euros.

In 2020 and 2021, large purchases of domestically produced weapons were agreed, such as Lazar 3 and Milos combat vehicles and Nora-B52 self-propelled howitzers. In 2022, according to the Law on Budget, it is planned to spend 514,27 million. economic classification 512 euros, and it is estimated that, judging by the current practice, more money will reach the military coffers. When everything that has been spent since 2016, planned for this year and planned for next year, about 2,084 billion euros will be spent, the text reads.

Pristina is increasing its army

Authorities in Pristina have decided to increase the number of Kosovo Security Forces (KSF) by about 20 per cent next year, from 4.000 to 4.800, announced Balkan Security Network portal.

The government in Pristina will thus be the only one in Europe to double the number of troops in five years. The CBS Law of December 2018 stipulates the number of people under arms, and that level will be reached gradually. Before the law was passed, there were 2.426 people in those forces in uniform, and 2.500 in the number of formation positions, the text says.

The total budget of the Ministry of Defense and the KSF is around 102 million euros, one third of which is intended for salaries.

For 2023, the defense budget is expected to grow to 116 million euros, and in 2024 to about 135 million euros.

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