Serbia Trade Ministry Signals Push to Resume Arms Export Licensing

Serbia’s government is preparing steps aimed at restarting the issuance of export licenses for weapons and military equipment, following an interruption that has lasted several months. The initiative is being led by the Ministry of Internal and Foreign Trade, which holds a central role in the licensing process for defense exports.

Minister Jagoda Lazarević stated that the ministry intends to engage with other relevant state institutions to influence a renewed flow of approvals. According to the ministry, the halt in licensing has created accumulated inventories at defense companies and risks undermining established relationships with international customers.

The issue was highlighted during a visit to the Milan Blagojević facility in Lučani, one of Serbia’s key producers of military explosives and propellants. Officials indicated that production capacity remains active, but export constraints are limiting the sector’s ability to deliver finished products to foreign markets.

Serbia’s defense industry is heavily export-oriented, with a significant portion of output destined for non-domestic customers under state-approved contracts. Prolonged delays in export licensing can affect cash flow, production planning, and workforce stability across the sector.

No timeline has been formally announced for the resumption of licensing, and authorities have not detailed the specific criteria under which approvals would restart. The ministry emphasized that coordination among state bodies will be required before any procedural changes are implemented.