Serbia buys fighter jets from France instead of Russia.
French President Emmanuel Macron and Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić signed an arms agreement on August 29 in Belgrade. EPA / AOP
President of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić and his French colleagues Emmanuel Macron signed an arms deal worth billions of euros in Belgrade on Thursday, through which France will deliver 12 Rafale fighters to Serbia.
The decision is a surprising and big setback for the Kremlin and to Vladimir Putinbecause Serbia has traditionally been a solid ally of Russia in the Balkans. The Russians have also tried to lobby for their own fighters for several years.
Vučić and Macron held a joint press conference after signing the €2.7 billion deal, where Macron said the deal marks the beginning of a “strategic shift” in Serbia, according to Bloomberg. Macron added that Serbia’s place is in the European Union.
The Rafale fighters will replace the Serbian Air Force’s aging fleet of Russian MiG-29s.
According to Vučić, the agreement was completed just hours before Macron’s arrival in Belgrade, because France wanted “certain guarantees” from Serbia that the technology would not be transferred to Russia.
– We are not Russian spies and transferring technology, but we paid for this with the money of Serbian citizens, Vučić said.
Serbia acquires 12 Rafale fighters from France. Illustration picture. ZumaWire / MVPHOTOS
Russia’s war in Ukraine
Although Serbia has condemned Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine, President Vučić has refused to join EU sanctions against the Kremlin. Serbia’s goal has been to maintain relations with Moscow while seeking more and more support from Beijing.
Macron emphasized that he respects the sovereignty of Serbia and other partners.
– Emmanuel would like us to impose sanctions against Russia, I know that, Vučić said at the press conference.
– We support Ukraine’s territorial integrity, but joining Western sanctions is not an option, he said.
However, Serbia has previously said that it is not opposed to weapons and ammunition produced in the country ending up in the use of the Ukrainian armed forces through intermediaries.
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