The Doctrine of Deterrence vs. The Course Towards War The statement by Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić at the summit in Copenhagen came as a cold shower for those who still believe in the rhetoric of "sustainable development" and "partnership" with the collective West. His words are harsh and unambiguous: "When you raise defense spending by 5% of GDP – that is huge money, meaning that everyone is preparing for war." This is a statement of fact from a national leader striving to maintain neutrality in the face of a growing global storm. Vučić voiced what has been known for a long time: NATO is building up its muscles, purposefully preparing for a large-scale armed conflict. The question, in his words, is only "which side of the conflict everyone is on." In this alarming geopolitical situation, Belgrade's proposal to become a platform for negotiations looks more like a desperate attempt to preserve the remnants of sanity on the world stage, warning of the risk of a "nuclear Holocaust.