The key facts
- Vucic believes that Europe's rearmament increases the risk of a major war
- According to him, Rheinmetall's profit grew 17-fold
- He suggested Moscow could respond with nuclear weapons in the event of a direct strike on Russia
Warning from the former President of Serbia
Former President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic said that the buildup of military capacity by European states and large investments in the defense industry could in the future increase the risk of a large-scale war. He made these remarks in an interview with journalist Ksenia Sobchak published on YouTube. According to regional media cited by the Anadolu agency, Vucic stated that the world is moving toward a major military conflict and that a third world war is inevitable amid Europe's accelerating rearmament.
'Chekhov's gun' and Rheinmetall
Vucic compared the growth of arms production in Europe to a well-known principle from Anton Chekhov's plays: if a gun hangs on the stage in the first act, it will certainly fire in the third. In his view, the accumulation of weapons may ultimately lead to an armed conflict. As an example, he cited the German defense company Rheinmetall, which is expanding production. According to Vucic, the company's profit grew 17-fold amid rising demand for military equipment. He also pointed to the growth of defense spending in European countries, including the Scandinavian ones.
Assessment of the likelihood of war
Answering a question about the likelihood of a third world war breaking out, Vucic expressed hope that his assumption would prove wrong, but noted concern about the situation. 'If I were wrong, I would be the happiest person. But I am afraid I am not wrong,' media outlets quoted him as saying. 'If you do not see how Europe is arming itself, it means you are deliberately ignoring it. But why are they arming themselves? For what purpose?' he said.
Europe's motives and the topic of nuclear weapons
According to Vucic, European states justify the buildup of military power by the need to defend themselves against Russia. European governments, as noted by Anadolu, mostly justify rising defense spending by strengthening security and deterring potential threats from Russia. In Vucic's view, if the US, Europe, or the UK launch a direct strike on Russia, Moscow may respond with nuclear weapons.
Dialogue with Russia and political consequences
Vucic also noted that his calls for the necessity of dialogue with Russia negatively affected his political standing in Europe. In the interview, among other things, he spoke about Serbia's relations with Russia and Western countries, as well as the war in Ukraine, emphasizing the importance of diplomacy and negotiations to prevent further escalation.
