Serbia stages its largest-ever military parade with Steven Seagal as guest of honour
Belgrade displays 10,000 troops, tanks and aircraft, highlighting Serbia’s balancing act between Moscow-Beijing ties and EU ambitions amid domestic protests
Serbia staged its largest-ever military parade in Belgrade on Friday, with Steven Seagal serving as guest of honour. The American actor, 73, is known for action films and has become a vocal backer of Vladimir Putin; he holds Russian citizenship granted in 2014 and also has Serbian citizenship, with the Kremlin envoy role to the United States cited since 2018. President Aleksandar Vucic invited Seagal last week to attend the event to bolster cultural and artistic cooperation as Belgrade displayed its military capabilities.
About 10,000 troops marched through the streets of New Belgrade, with columns of soldiers, smoke trails, and vehicles including luxury Audis in which some service members rode, their rifles pointed from the windows. The display blended domestically produced weapons with foreign-supplied systems and signaled Serbia’s deterrence posture amid a region surrounded by NATO members. Crowds waved national flags as aircraft roared overhead and helicopters hovered above the parade route. The event showcased a range of equipment, including an Israeli PULS rocket artillery system with a reported range up to 300 kilometers, drones purchased from the United Arab Emirates, tanks from Russia, and anti-aircraft systems from China. France’s Rafale fighters were also visible, reflecting Serbia’s order for 12 of the multi-role jets to be delivered in coming years. Seagal sat near President Vucic as the display unfolded, sometimes appearing stern as the spectacle unfolded around him.
A military helicopter circuitously mapped the skies above the New Belgrade district as soldiers from the army’s Cobra unit drilled in high-speed-car formations, some hanging out of windows while brandishing large rifles. The parade included a guard of honour and a show of bayonet-equipped soldiers, with blue-uniform units lining up for ceremonial duties. The breadth of equipment—from homegrown hardware to Israeli, UAE, Russian, and Chinese systems—underscored Belgrade’s effort to project military capability while maintaining its publicly stated goal of EU membership. The presence of Audi cars in the procession and the visual emphasis on mobility underscored the theatre-like nature of the event, as observers noted how the spectacle fused politics and showmanship.
The day’s pageantry came amid broader political contention at home. Critics have argued that the parade was used as a political prop by President Vucic to bolster his standing amid student-led and broader anti-government protests. Reported steps included the involvement of state employees and large-scale bus transportation to bolster turnout, raising questions about the crowd’s composition and the parade’s political aims. Opposition figures condemned the event as a demonstration of power rather than a straightforward defense display, while rights groups highlighted concerns about the rights of protesters and the government’s broader crackdown on dissent.
Supporters of the government pointed to the parade as a demonstration of Serbia’s sovereignty and its ability to defend itself amid regional tensions. They noted Belgrade’s balancing act between Moscow and Beijing—evidenced by Russian tanks and Chinese anti-air systems—alongside high-profile Western orders, such as French Rafale jets. The display also reflected the country’s complicated path toward European Union accession, with Serbia publicly pursuing alignment with Western institutions while cultivating strategic partnerships on multiple fronts.
The ceremony followed a tense week in which three Russian fighter jets were reported to have entered Estonian airspace, a move condemned by NATO and other Western officials. Serbia’s own display of advanced weapons and foreign-supplied equipment was therefore viewed by some observers as a counterpoint to Western concerns about regional security and Serbia’s political direction. In Belgrade, Seagal’s appearance alongside Vucic drew international attention to how cultural and entertainment figures intersect with geopolitics in the Balkans.
Separately, thousands of students and other opponents continued protests for months, calling for anti-corruption reforms and an early parliamentary election. Police kept protesters at bay near the parade route, while riot units maintained a controlled perimeter. The demonstrations that began in November after a canopy collapse at a renovated Novi Sad train station that killed 16 people have since grown into a broader challenge to the government’s authority, drawing coverage from regional and international outlets and prompting ongoing scrutiny of Serbia’s governance model.
In Belgrade, the parade illustrated Serbia’s enduring effort to demonstrate resilience and deterrence to both regional neighbors and the international community. It also highlighted the tension between showcasing military might and sustaining Western aspirations, a balance that remains central to Serbia’s domestic debates and foreign policy calculations.