Russia’s Balkan ally Serbia is taking yet another step toward inching closer to Europe and away from Moscow as Belgrade looks for French fighter jets and European Union infrastructure money.
President Aleksander Vucic announced that Serbia would increase defense spending in an effort to modernize its military, with much of its inventory reliant upon old Soviet equipment. Serbia has shown interest in French jets since 2022 in the hopes of replacing outdated Soviet MIGs.Serbia, which has close cultural and political ties with Russia, has received significant military hardware from Moscow.
Serbian President Aleksander Vucic announced that Serbia would increase defense spending in an effort to modernize its military, with much of its inventory reliant upon old Soviet equipment.Serbia has shown interest in French jets since 2022 in the hopes of replacing outdated Soviet MIGs.
Vucic has always tried to balance his relations with Belgrade’s traditional patron Russia while attempting to remain in the good graces of Europe. Serbia officially applied for EU membership in 2009, and its ongoing dispute with the former province Kosovo, backed by Russia, remains a key point of contention for its path to the EU. Recently, nationalist protesters took to the streets in opposition to an EU-proposed plan to normalize relations with Kosovo.
While it makes political and practical sense for Vucic to purchase more advanced fighter jets from France and accept EU aid, it is still likely not enough to fully ingratiate Serbia with EU leaders.
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