Serbia’s student-backed electoral alliance, which won last month’s snap parliamentary elections, has announced plans to more than double the country’s defence spending, with a long-term target of allocating 5% of gross domestic product (GDP) to the military.
The programme also proposes substantial salary increases for military personnel, reforms to address pay inequalities and further modernisation of Serbia’s armed forces.
Luka Ponorac, a former Serbian Army officer representing the victorious electoral list, told public broadcaster RTS that implementing the proposals would depend on the financial resources and personnel available to the incoming administration.
According to Ponorac, Serbia’s defence expenditure has been projected at approximately 2% to 2.5% of GDP. The new programme aims to increase that figure initially to 3%, before gradually reaching the proposed 5% target.
He said the strategy had been developed with input from Serbian defence experts and was intended to ensure more efficient allocation of military resources.
The programme emphasises balanced development across different branches of the armed forces, alongside improvements in operational capabilities and military infrastructure.
A central component of the proposals is a 20% to 30% increase in military salaries, accompanied by reforms to reduce disparities in compensation between ranks and assignments.
Ponorac highlighted inconsistencies in the existing pay structure, noting that some special forces soldiers receive higher salaries than generals because of differences in allowances.
He also pointed to cases in which senior instructors at the Military Academy earn less than officers serving in operational units.
Beyond financial improvements, the proposed reforms seek to establish clearer and more predictable career progression for military personnel.
Ponorac stressed that the success of the programme would depend on the incoming government’s ability to balance its defence ambitions with available resources while ensuring that increased expenditure translates into meaningful improvements across the armed forces.