After the bloody 1990s and the intense 2000s, Serbia experienced a decade calmer than ever. Political progress was made throughout this period, but this year it came very close to a new war with Kosovo.
Whatever has happened lately, nothing important has changed in the country. Its president, Aleksandar Vucic, is seen to be in control of the situation and people seem to trust him.
But the war in Ukraine put the Serbs in a very difficult position. The state is used to armed conflicts, but no one had prepared them for the political and diplomatic dilemma they find themselves in today. Since the start of the 2022 Russo-Ukraine war a year ago, the West has been pressuring Serbia to turn against Moscow. But so far, Belgrade has not budged at all.
Be that as it may, the period of prosperity and stability in the Balkan state seems to be over, after critical changes were announced, which will "hit" the country during a period of global geopolitical instability.
It is known that in the Balkans handguns are almost everywhere. It is certainly not American conditions, but the use of weapons for self-defense purposes, etc. is quite widespread. But now, the Serbian president wants to change things and disarm the people of his country.
Recent occasions of this new law banning atomic weapons are two mass murders, one in a school in Belgrade and one in a suburb of the capital. A total of 16 dead!
In another political change of state, Vucic left the presidency of the ruling party called the Serbian Progressive Party, which is the largest in the country and one of the most populous in all of Europe.
As an excuse, he stated that he wants to leave his responsibilities to the "new generation", however the Serbian politician is only 53 years old.
He's probably thinking of gradual power transfer, maybe it's something else. We can't know for sure.
Although he has effectively sided with Russia, the Serbian president has declared that he cannot resist Western pressure forever. Not only are they "pushing" him towards the anti-Moscow camp, but they are asking him to establish good relations with neighboring Kosovo.
Political analysts speculate that in order not to be forced to give in to their demands, Vucic will resign from politics. Perhaps that is why he left the leadership of the party in the hands of another - he wanted to prepare the ground.
But until then, nothing is certain. The Serbian government may be preparing a "war" against the West and its pressing demands, which it will fight together with Russian help. Be that as it may, the country's future looks very shaky.
