Serbia’s former President Aleksandar Vucic has warned that the world was heading towards a major military conflict, claiming that World War III was inevitable amid accelerating military buildup across Europe, regional media reported on Tuesday.
In an interview with Russian journalist Ksenia Sobchak, Vucic expressed concern over rising defence spending across European countries, including Scandinavian nations, which have been strengthening their military capabilities.
He cited German defence manufacturer Rheinmetall as an example, claiming that its profits had increased 17-fold amid growing demand for military equipment.
“If you don’t see how Europe is arming itself, then you are deliberately ignoring it. But why are they arming themselves? For what purpose?” Vucic asked.
He compared the situation to Russian playwright Anton Chekhov’s literary principle that a gun introduced in the first act of a play must eventually be fired, suggesting that the accumulation of weapons could ultimately lead to armed conflict.
European governments have largely justified increased defence spending as necessary to strengthen their security and deter potential threats from Russia.
Vucic, however, expressed pessimism about the direction of global security developments.
“I would be the happiest man in the world if I were wrong, but I fear that is not the case,” he said.
During the interview, Vucic also discussed Serbia’s relations with Russia and Western countries, as well as the war in Ukraine, emphasising the importance of diplomacy and negotiations in preventing further escalation.
