Serbia has signed a significant deal with France’s Dassault Aviation to purchase 12 Rafale fighter jets for €2.7 billion ($2.99 billion), marking its largest weapons acquisition since becoming independent in 2006, Reuters reports.
The agreement includes a full logistics package, spare parts, and auxiliary support. This purchase, made during French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Belgrade, indicates a shift away from Serbia’s traditional ally of Russia to France. Serbia will pay for the jets in two installments of €421 million each in 2024 and 2025, with the planes coming equipped with French MICA missiles, not the more advanced Meteor missiles. Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic stated that the Rafales will enhance the country’s military capabilities and assured that Serbia would not share Rafale technology with Moscow.
The purchase reflects Serbia’s strategic balancing act between Western and Eastern influences. Despite its condemnation of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Serbia has not imposed sanctions on Moscow and maintains significant ties with both Russia and China.
