Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić said on Friday that a national development plan extending to 2035 would be published around March 1, while warning that what he described as a military alliance involving Kosovo, Albania and Croatia was a cause of serious concern for Belgrade.
Speaking to reporters during the opening of a renovated high school in the town of Mladenovac, south of Belgrade, Vučić said the long-term plan would focus on infrastructure, water supply systems and regional development, as Serbia seeks to accelerate growth and attract new investment.
“The development plan for 2030 and 2035 will be published around March 1, and one of the key priorities will be water infrastructure,” Vučić said, noting that losses in local water networks across Serbia often exceed 50%.
Infrastructure and investment push
Vučić said that attracting investors and improving transport links were crucial for Mladenovac and surrounding areas, announcing plans to build a motorway connecting the town with Belgrade via Malo Požarevac.
“When this is completed, Mladenovac will be less than half an hour from Belgrade, which will significantly increase investor interest and improve quality of life,” he said, adding that the route would later extend toward Aranđelovac, Rača, Despotovac and Bor.
The president said nearly 3 million euros had been invested in the reconstruction of the Mladenovac Grammar School, financed partly through Germany’s development bank KfW. Germany’s ambassador to Serbia, Anke Konrad, said Berlin would fund the renovation of another 60 schools across the country.
Vučić also warned that insufficient funding for maintenance remained a chronic problem, saying Serbia spends around 450 million euros annually to maintain highways and fast roads.
“It is pointless to build if you do not maintain,” he said.
Concerns over regional security
Vučić reiterated strong concerns over what he described as a military alliance between Pristina, Tirana and Zagreb, saying it went beyond technical or procurement-based cooperation.
“This is not a military-technical agreement. This is a military alliance designed for defensive or offensive actions against specific territories,” Vučić said, without providing details of the intelligence information he cited.
He added that arms procurement discussions and joint planning raised questions about the alliance’s purpose, calling it a matter of serious concern for Serbia’s security.
Kosovo, Albania and Croatia have not publicly described their cooperation as a formal military alliance, and none immediately responded to Vučić’s comments.
Claims of Croatian involvement in Serbian protests
Vučić also accused Croatia of interfering in Serbia’s internal affairs, claiming that Zagreb’s political and media circles were involved in protests and political tensions in Serbia.
“You do not need intelligence services to see this. It is obvious to everyone,” Vučić said, adding that Serbia would not return to what he described as political subservience in the post-2000 period.
Croatian officials have previously rejected similar accusations as unfounded.
Domestic political tensions
Addressing questions about a corruption case involving Culture Minister Nikola Selaković, Vučić said the investigation was politically motivated and aimed at targeting him personally.
“Nobody knows what he is accused of, including me,” Vučić said, adding that he was ready to accept responsibility if evidence emerged against him.
Diplomatic agenda
Vučić announced upcoming visits to Turkey, where he is expected to meet President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, followed by participation in the Munich Security Conference. He also said Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev would visit Serbia on February 15.
In addition, Vučić said he would travel to New Delhi for a global artificial intelligence summit, which he said would also be attended by French President Emmanuel Macron and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.
Serbia, which seeks to balance ties between the European Union, China, Russia and regional partners, has increasingly framed infrastructure development and security concerns as central pillars of its domestic and foreign policy.