Serbia staged a massive military parade on Saturday, September 20, 2025, in the New Belgrade neighborhood of its capital, Belgrade, showcasing its largest display of army strength to date. The event featured 10,000 military personnel marching alongside 2,600 pieces of military equipment, including tanks, missile systems, fighter jets, and drones.
The parade highlighted Serbia's complex foreign policy, which balances its aspirations to join the European Union with ongoing arms deals from multiple countries including Russia, China, France, Israel, and the United Arab Emirates. Notable equipment displayed included Russian tanks, Chinese anti-aircraft systems, Israeli and UAE drones, and French Rafale fighter jets, of which Serbia has ordered 12.
President Aleksandar Vučić, who attended the parade alongside Defense Minister Bratislav Gasic and army chief-of-staff General Milan Mojsilovic, described the event as a demonstration of Serbia's ability to defend its independence and sovereignty. He emphasized the parade as a deterrent against foreign aggression and a source of national pride.
The parade coincided with the Day of Serb Unity, Freedom and the National Flag, a national holiday. Crowds waving Serbian flags watched as military aircraft flew overhead, while the government framed the event as a celebration of national unity and strength.
However, the parade was met with criticism from opposition leaders and protesters. Several hundred demonstrators, including university students who have been staging anti-corruption protests for over 10 months, were prevented by riot police from attending the event. The opposition accused the government of politicizing the armed forces and using the parade to bolster President Vučić's rule amid ongoing public discontent.
The event underscored Serbia's geopolitical balancing act, maintaining cordial relations with Moscow and Beijing while pursuing closer ties with the West. Serbia's defense spending reached approximately $2.2 billion in 2024, about 2.6 percent of its GDP, reflecting its commitment to rearmament amid regional military build-ups.
Earlier in 2025, President Vučić attended a military parade in Beijing alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin, further illustrating Serbia's multi-vector foreign policy approach. The acquisition of Western military hardware such as the French Rafale jets signals a strategic pivot in defense procurement, while continuing to operate Russian and Chinese equipment.
The parade in Belgrade on Saturday thus served both as a display of military capability and a symbol of Serbia's nuanced foreign relations, balancing its EU membership ambitions with diverse international partnerships.
