Serbia presented for the first time the modern air defense system FK-3, recently procured from China. The United States, on the other hand, had warned the Balkan country, which is governed by President Aleksandar Vucic, against buying the Chinese air defense system.
“We have recently been able to invest more money and, as a result, equip our army with modern means,” said President Aleksandar Vucic on Saturday at the sidelines of an air and weapons show at the Batajnica military airport near Belgrade.
The US had warned Serbia not to buy the Chinese air defense system. It can defend against aircraft, missiles and drones and is said to be based on the Russian S-300 system. Serbia had already completed the purchase in 2019. China delivered the first components at the beginning of April. This had caused a stir because by then the Russian war against Ukraine was already underway.
Serbia: Russian air defense system Pantsir presented for the first time
At the show at the airport, the Serbian military also showed the Russian air defense system Pantsir for the first time. Serbia had already acquired this in 2020. Under Vucic, the Balkan country deepened its ties with Russia. However, in the UN General Assembly, Belgrade agreed to condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine. At the same time, it has so far shown itself unwilling to follow the European Union’s (EU) sanctions against Russia.
Serbia aspires to membership in the EU, but not in NATO. However, it does participate in NATO’s Partnership for Peace (PfP) programme. As Vucic explained at the military show, he is currently negotiating with the NATO country France about the purchase of twelve Rafale combat aircraft.
Source: Stern
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