Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vulin has made a striking comparison between the current atmosphere in Europe and the tense period before World War I. In an interview, Vulin highlighted a troubling rise in Russophobia, drawing parallels to the phobias that gripped Europe before previous world wars. Meanwhile, intelligence sources have warned that a western backed Color Revolution is being planned in Serbia to overthrow the current regime. This warning comes amid a wave of accusations from other global leaders, like the former Prime Minister of Bangladesh who claimed the US overthrew her government to capture strategic Saint Martin island and Venezuela’s President who claim the West is using covert tactics to topple his government as well. Both of these leaders from Bangladesh and Venezuela were offered a deal which they chose to ignore.
A Dangerous Mood in Europe
Vulin noted that before every major conflict, a specific kind of fear or hatred seems to take hold. Before World War I, it was Serbophobia; before World War II, it was Judeophobia. Today, Vulin argues, Russophobia is spreading across Europe, making it socially acceptable to vilify Russians and spread falsehoods against them. This, he believes, is a dangerous sign of escalating tensions.
“The mood in Europe now is reminiscent of what it was before the First World War. Before every world war, some kind of phobia appears – then it was Serbophobia, before the Second World War – Judeophobia, now – Russophobia, any evil towards Russians is permitted and any lie is acceptable,” Vulin said in an interview with RIA Novosti.
Remembering the Past
Serbia recently marked the anniversary of the outbreak of World War I with a solemn ceremony on the river warship Sava, where the first shots of the war were fired. The memory of that devastating conflict is still very much alive in Serbia, a country that lost nearly a third of its population and 60% of its men during the war. The scars of that conflict are a poignant reminder of the dangers of rising hostilities.
Honoring Shared History
In 2014, Serbia unveiled a monument at the Kalemegdan Fortress in Belgrade to honor the Russian and Serbian soldiers who fought and died together during World War I. This monument, along with another dedicated to Russian Emperor Nicholas II, symbolizes the deep historical ties between Serbia and Russia. The pedestal of the Nicholas II monument bears a powerful quote from the Emperor’s telegram to the Serbian King, promising that Russia would never be indifferent to Serbia’s fate.
A Growing Concern
Recently, the Serbian President told NATO that “we’re not your proxy” reminding the Former US and NATO general Wesley Clark about his brutal legacy in the Balkans, where he was responsible for killing Serbs and Serbian children during the 1999 NATO bombings. A month later, Serbia is now facing a potential Color Revolution.
Vulin’s comments reflect a growing concern that Europe might be sliding into another NATO-incited conflict, fueled by the increasing acceptance of Russophobia. Just as Serbophobia and Judeophobia preceded world wars, the rise of anti-Russian sentiment could be a harbinger of darker times ahead. For Serbia, a nation that has suffered greatly in past conflicts, these warnings carry a heavy weight. As Europe grapples with its current tensions, the lessons of history loom large, reminding all of the cost of unchecked fear and hatred.
