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full screen French President Emmanuel Macron (left) is on a state visit to Serbia and is received by President Aleksandr Vucic. Photo: Darko Vojinovic/AP/T
Serbia and France have signed an agreement on the French export of the Rafale fighter plane, at an estimated value of around SEK 30 billion.
The deal was formally concluded during French President Emmanuel Macron’s state visit to Belgrade. The sale of the twelve combat planes from the company Dassault comes after long negotiations. The plan must be delivered until 2029.
The announcement from Belgrade is seen as an opening for closer contacts between Serbia and the EU. Vucic and Serbia have long stood by an open stance towards Moscow – even after the invasion of Ukraine.
In addition, Serbia has previously turned to Russia for, among other things, the purchase of fighter aircraft, which meant close military contacts between Belgrade and Moscow. This is partially broken with the purchase of French Rafale planes.