BELGRADE, Serbia — On Thursday, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic announced a $3 billion agreement to purchase 12 French warplanes, signaling a shift away from Serbia’s reliance on Russian military equipment.
The announcement was made during a joint press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron, who was on a two-day state visit to Serbia.
French President Emmanuel Macron began a two-day state visit to Serbia on Thursday, focusing on the potential sale of 12 Rafale multi-role fighter jets to the country, which has maintained close ties with Russia despite its invasion of Ukraine.
Macron is scheduled to meet with the populist leader President Aleksandar Vucic in Belgrade on Thursday evening, when the deal, reportedly worth 3 billion euros, is expected to be finalized.
An unnamed official from Macron’s office, speaking under the condition of anonymity due to French presidential policy, stated that the discussions about the warplanes are part of a broader strategy to “bring Serbia closer to the EU.”
Serbia is looking to modernize its air force, and the Rafale jets represent a “strategic choice” for Belgrade, which might otherwise continue to depend solely on Russian equipment, the official added.
While Serbia has formally applied for European Union membership, it has made little headway in the areas of rule of law and democratic reforms under Vucic’s increasingly autocratic governance, both of which are essential criteria for joining the 27-member bloc.
In a letter addressed to the Serbian public and published in local media on Thursday, Macron encouraged the Balkan nation to pursue its path towards the EU, though he acknowledged that “the prospect of joining the European Union does not seem to be as appealing as it should.” He referred to “concerns and fatigue over the pace of accession talks and also, at times, a feeling of resentment, even mistrust,” toward the EU.
“I am here in Serbia today with a clear message: The European Union and its member states need a strong and democratic Serbia within their ranks, and Serbia needs a strong and sovereign European Union to defend and advance its interests while respecting its identity,” Macron stated in the letter, which was published in the liberal Danas newspaper.
Macron also cautioned that following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Serbia’s “balancing act” between global powers is merely an “illusion.” He emphasized that Serbia can safeguard its interests and maintain its identity only as part of the EU.
Serbia has been considering the acquisition of new Rafale jets for over two years, ever since its neighboring rival, Croatia, purchased 12 used jets of the same model for approximately 1 billion euros.
