Serbia will purchase fighter jets from France, bypassing Russia

Serbia is set to sign a major deal with France to purchase 12 Rafale fighter jets manufactured by Dassault Aviation. The Financial Times reports this.

According to the publication, the Serbian government plans to spend about three billion euros on fighters. An anonymous Serbian defense ministry official told the Financial Times that the deal is "more than 90 percent agreed" but the two sides have yet to agree on financial terms. In addition to fighter aircraft, the contract included radars and missile systems.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, after a meeting with Emmanuel Macron, said: “The contract is expected to be signed in the next two months and in the presence of the French President <...> We are determined to purchase new aircraft that will significantly improve our combat capabilities.”

Previously, Serbia purchased aircraft from Russia. The country's list of weapons included 14 MiG-29 aircraft.

Financial Times journalists link the deal to the war in Ukraine. According to them, after the start of the full-scale invasion, Vučić “disappointed European capitals by refusing to join Western sanctions against the regime of Vladimir Putin.” However, “as pressure from Europe and the United States increased,” Serbia began to allow the supply of domestically produced ammunition to Ukraine, as well as the purchase of weapons produced by European companies.

A Serbian Defense Ministry spokesman told the Financial Times that the war in Ukraine has “accelerated diversification.” He also believes that it is impossible to conclude contracts for the supply of weapons with Russia today.

Emmanuel Macron, after meeting with Vucic, said: “Our economic relations have received a real boost... and we can go further.” According to him, discussions of defense contracts and energy projects “are a sign of political trust and a desire to expand our relations.”

The Financial Times notes that Macron wants Serbia to take further steps towards the West, including by recognizing Kosovo's statehood. “It is important for Serbia to continue to make its European choice concrete, for example by coordinating our foreign policy decisions,” the French president added.

To receive the main news faster, subscribe to our telegram and Twitter .