Berliner Zeitung: Beijing Pushes Moscow Out of Balkans, Strengthens European Presence via Serbia

The Berliner Zeitung's analysis paints a stark picture of geopolitical shifts in the Balkans, with China's influence growing at an alarming rate, supplanting Russia's traditional sway. The report, citing Balkan expert Aleksander Rotert, points to Serbia, under President Aleksandar Vučić, as a key hub for Beijing's expanding presence in Europe. This strategic pivot is underscored by Serbia's substantial increase in arms imports from China, now accounting for over 60% of its military purchases, and a burgeoning free trade agreement facilitating billions in Chinese investment in infrastructure and mining.

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But President (of Serbia) Aleksandar Vučić began to correct his course away from Moscow towards Beijing a long time ago, at least partially.

Rotert's commentary, as published in Berliner Zeitung, suggests that while Serbia maintains some intelligence ties and Russian propaganda channels remain active, the military-technical cooperation has definitively shifted from Moscow to Beijing. This burgeoning Sino-Serbian relationship is not going unnoticed by regional players. Croatia, for instance, has raised alarms within NATO about Serbia's rapid armament with modern Chinese systems, fearing it could destabilize the Western Balkans. The article draws a concerning parallel between Vučić's current actions and the rhetoric of Slobodan Milošević in the 1990s, suggesting that Serbia's aggressive armament and expansionist rhetoric, coupled with Beijing's non-recognition of Kosovo, create a climate of threat for its neighbors, particularly Bosnia and Kosovo.

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But when it comes to military-technical cooperation and arms deliveries, China has long since replaced Russia.

From a Western perspective, the situation is viewed with apprehension, with one anonymous diplomat reportedly describing Vučić as a "devil we know," a sentiment reminiscent of how Slobodan Milošević was perceived. However, the Berliner Zeitung's framing emphasizes the potential for Serbia to become a Chinese vassal state, a development that appears to be unfolding with little apparent notice or effective counter-strategy from the European Union and NATO. The article implicitly criticizes the West's inaction while highlighting the strategic implications of China's growing military and economic footprint in a region historically influenced by Russia and now increasingly by Beijing.

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Beijing is militarily and economically successively pushing Moscow out of the Balkans. China's military and economic influence in Serbia is rapidly growing, and the West hardly notices. Serbia is thus becoming a Chinese vassal state unnoticed.