Is Russia’s staunchest ally in Europe finally falling under the EU pressure or the country is cutting ties with Russia? Those are the speculations sparked after Serbia’s recent decision to cancel the contracts for Russian weapons despite having supplied its army with it since Soviet times.
According to Serbia’s Chief of General Staff Milan Mojsilović, the reason for the decision “was the Western sanctions against Moscow,” although he avoided to specify if Belgrade was cutting ties with Russia. Mojsilović noted that some of the contracts are only postponed while Belgrade attempts to use diplomatic channels to find solution.
An EU candidate country, Serbia hopes international relations would normalize but many believe the country is finally decided to align its foreign policy with the EU and Europe and to look more west.
“Serbia’s recent decision to buy 12 new French Rafale fighter jets “speaks volumes” about Serbia’s strategic positioning amid the conflict between the West and Russia,” Dr Orhan Dragaš, founder and director of the Belgrade-based International Security Institute, stressed.
Back in August, Belgrade decided to replace Serbia’s ageing Russian MiG-29s fleet, but not with a new batch of Russian fighter jets as agreed in 2021 but with €2.7 billion worth 12 French Rafales.
