In Belgrade on September 20, 2025, a large military parade took place under the slogan ‘The Power of Unity’. According to the Serbian Ministry of Defense, equipment from various countries was demonstrated at the ceremony, including France, China, the UAE, Israel, and the Russian Federation.
According to the organizers, the event involved more than 10,000 servicemen and officials. About 2,500 units of weapons and military equipment were displayed, more than 600 vehicles, 70 aircraft, and 20 ships. Cadets of military schools carried a 300-meter national flag during the national anthem.
The official parade delegation included the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, the Minister of Defense Bratislav Gašić, and the parade commander – the Chief of the General Staff of the Serbian Armed Forces, General Milan Mojsilović.
According to the Ministry of Defense, the samples presented at the parade encompassed both domestic developments and samples from abroad: Russian tanks, unmanned aerial vehicles from the United Arab Emirates, Israeli missile systems and French Rafale fighters.
With regard to public reaction, Euronews noted that several students and supporters of opposition forces did not attend the parade viewing. The protests that erupted after the tragic event on 4 November 2024 in Novi Sad – the collapse of a concrete canopy on the railway station, which claimed 16 lives – partially reduced the public resonance of the event. Experts believe that the Belgrade parade could be viewed as a symbolic response to the growing arms race in the region.
Event Features and Context
After the official demonstrations in the capital, a wide range of equipment was showcased: from heavy armored vehicles to modern systems and weapons, highlighting Serbia’s diversity of partnerships with various countries.
Context and Implications
The parade underscores the country’s intention to modernize its defense potential and expand international defense ties. Analysts note that the event could serve domestic political branding and signal to allies the willingness to continue modernizing the army in the context of a changing regional landscape.
Conclusion
The large-scale event demonstrated Serbia’s ability to coordinate the use of different sources of weapons and equipment, while emphasizing a sovereign approach to defense development and partnerships. In the context of the Novi Sad events, attention to security and transparency remains a timely issue for the public, but the parade also reflects the country’s aim to maintain defense potential in the contemporary regional environment.