On 13 May, SIPRI, in partnership with the news outlet Nova Ekonomija, organized a conference in Belgrade, Serbia on ‘The Price of Security—Between Threat and Trust’, as part of an ongoing SIPRI project funded by the Swedish Institute. The event brought together experts to examine the implications of increasing militarization for peace and stability in the Western Balkans.
The discussion addressed the economic consequences, the transparency of arms procurement processes in the Western Balkans and why this transparency matters. Panellists also examined how rising military spending is justified in Serbia, how it is portrayed and perceived in the media, and how countries in the region view increases in their neighbours’ military expenditure.
Xiao Liang, Researcher in the SIPRI Military Expenditure and Arms Production Programme, presented SIPRI’s latest data and research on global trends in military expenditure. The opening statement was delivered by H.E. Charlotte Sabina Sammelin, Ambassador of Sweden to Serbia. Katarina Djokić, Researcher in the SIPRI Arms Transfers Programme, contributed to the discussions.