The endless columns of the tanks have dropped the Bullewards down, and the fighter jets and helicopters have overhead overhead since morning.
For many people in Belgrade, scenes in the capital remind more of war footage than the preparation of a military parade.
For the second week in one line, the main roads of Belgrade have blocked the rehearsal for military phenomena, called “power of unity”, which is going to be in front of the palace of Serbia on this Saturday, which is a government building in the capital.
There is a lack of enthusiasm for the parade among the citizens. Many people are complaining about the differences around the city.
Buleward and main roads are being repeated and reopening repeatedly; Drivers are stuck in traffic jams, while pedestrians are disappointed to weave through military vehicles while crossing the road.
Huge parade
The parade marks the day of Serbian unity, freedom and national flag, a public holiday in 2020 at the initiative of Serbian President Alexander Person and Republika Sripaska President Milorad Dodic.
Although the holiday itself is on 15 September, the authorities decided that the central program should be held five days later.
According to officials, around 6,000 members of the Serbian Armed Forces will participate in the parade with 4,000 engaged in logistics and technical assistance.
During the procession, new types of weapons and fighter vehicles will be presented, and the soldiers want to give a 300-meter-length (985 ft) oblique flag.
A warning for this field?
“The need to display so many tools is an infant,” military analyst Alexander Radic told DW. “It’s not about showing on the optimal amount, but there is a large amount. The goal is to look largely, for the manufacturer there is a belief that a lot of everything. Five equipment instead, they show 40-50 acquisitions.”
For Radic, the most important weapon on performance in the parade will be from Israel, which has become the main source of Serbia weapons.
Israeli media stated last month that Belgrade has signed a $ 1.64 billion (€ 1.39 billion) contract with Israeli company Albit Systems. This is 70% of Serbia’s total defense budget for 2025.
Serbia recently delivered the new Pulse Multiple Rocket Launcher’s delivery from Israel, with a range of 300 km (186 mi). Radic hopes that this system will also be on performance.
“If a system is displayed, the area will, of course, will be shivering, as it will be recognized as a direct threat from Vucic as it is a system that allows Serbia to reach the firing from further firing positions,” Radic said.
Domestic purpose of parade
However, DW sources agreed that the primary function of this year’s parade is a domestic, political.
It comes at a time when citizens have been opposing corruption for more than ten months, demanding justice for 16 victims of Novi Sad railway station canopy.
DW sources say that given the political atmosphere in the country, the main goal of the parade is to demonstrate the strength of the state and scare the military with the performance of military power.
“The fact is that someone thought it to call it ‘power of unity’, speaks to himself,” said Alexander Radic. “Authorities crave unity properly because it does not exist. A government that leads to a fully divided society, for an extreme division of surbas on two sides – who support and opposes protests – who want a symbol of unity. The institution of the trust, they are truly trying to make a symbol of that unity through the army,” he explained.
Vuk Vuksnovic of the Belgrade Center for Security Policy says that the search strategy has elements of real.
“The army in Serbia has actually played a historic role as an important political factor, but it is never known as an effective means in suppressing internal political disturbance,” he told DW.
‘A message to everyone’
Milan Mojilovic, Chief of Staff of Serbian Armed Forces, rejected criticism that the military parade scares citizens and threatens neighbors, this criticism is called “manipulation”.
“The parade sometimes wants to send a message to friends and colleagues for happiness and celebration, and perhaps anger and anger for others.”
Serbian President Alexander Vusic further said that two newly formed military alliances – one between Croatia, Albania and Kosovo, and another bets are directed against Croatia and Slovenia – Slovenia.
“They have strong support from NATO. Bulgaria is expected to join them too. And we should not be blind; Similar coalition chiefs were formed in the same way before the wars. The interests of the Serbians.”
Vukasanovic states that thesis coalitions are away from the traditional military alliance, preparing for the attack and said that the President Vucic has been using a military parade for international purposes for a long time.
“His message has usually been: ‘I am strong. Balkan safety depends on me. You have to interact with me and take me seriously as a partner,” Wuksnovic told DW.
“It is clear that Serbia is not mainly part of these security for political reasons,” Vuksanovic said, “But there is pure hyperbole to talk about the alliances that start an attack on Serbia, which is used in this case for domestic spin.”
A dual message
DW sources say publicly, accusing him of conspiring to conspiracy against him in the West and funding of protests and blockade, the person really seeks support from these actors to stay in power. He does this primary through weapons.
“When Serbia buys weapons, it buys political aspects from some countries. Ordnance and modernization of ARPE is necessary and not controversial, but it is secondary to political imperatives,” Radic said.
Radic says that a dual message is being sent here: “For leading powers, Serbia is trying to show friendship in joint military activities and weapons, while at the same time, the viewing wants to create nervousness in the field and looks at the parade, emphasizing Serbia’s termination power, which is capable of reaching any point with its rocket.
Edited by: Angle Flangon