Serbia Deepens Embrace of China: Jets, Missiles, Billions in Debt as Brussels Worries and Vučić Ignores West's Warnings

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić's state visit to China, marked by a meeting with President Xi Jinping and the signing of numerous agreements, is being closely watched by Western capitals. While pro-government media in Serbia compare the visit to high-profile international meetings, outlets like Bloomberg have raised concerns that Serbia is approaching "red lines" set by Brussels due to its deepening ties with Beijing.

The agreements signed span areas including economy, nuclear energy, agriculture, and customs. Xi Jinping described Vučić's visit as a "new milestone" for bilateral relations, aiming to elevate their "comprehensive strategic partnership." Vučić, in turn, thanked China for its contributions to Serbia's progress since his first visit in 2016.

Despite its status as an EU candidate country, Serbia has increasingly turned to China. International policy expert Đorđe Dimitrov observed that China has become Serbia's "only stable pillar" of foreign policy over the past four years, contrasting it with strained relations with Russia, the EU, and the US. Serbia has already acquired Chinese supersonic missiles and conducted joint military exercises with China's special forces. Reports suggest Chinese fighter jets may soon replace Russian MiGs in the Serbian military.

Military analyst Aleksandar Radić suggested that arms procurements are a tool for the current government to secure political support, but cautioned that Serbia, not part of any concrete alliance, cannot impose itself with its resources. Vučić, however, appears unfazed by Western criticism, noting that warnings about Serbia "getting into trouble" have persisted for years. Some analysts suggest Europe's preoccupation with conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, as well as political shifts in the US, may be allowing Serbia's growing ties with China to proceed with less immediate scrutiny from Brussels.

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