Yesterday, as part of the two-day visit of the French President Emmanuel Macron, Serbia signed an agreement with a French company on the purchase of Rafale-type multi-purpose combat aircraft. The agreement signed in Belgrade by the Minister of Defense of Serbia, Bratislav Gašić, and the CEO of Daso Aviation, Erik Trapije, also includes the purchase of "supporting equipment and services".
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić announced at a joint press conference with Macron that "12 new rafal planes will arrive in Serbia" which will cost 2,7 billion euros, but he did not specify when Serbia will receive the planes.
"The contract was signed with a complete logistics package, from spare engines to everything else. The total value of the contract is 2,7 billion euros. "Twelve brand new planes will be owned by Serbia," said Vučić after the meeting with Macron.
He stated that this purchase will significantly contribute to increasing the operational capabilities of the Serbian Army, thanking Macron for making this purchase possible. He added that in 2024 and 2025, Serbia will pay 15 percent each, or 421 million euros each from the budget, stressing that this will not increase the share of public debt in Serbia's gross domestic product. "We are fully controlling the deficit and will not endanger Serbia's public finances in any way," said Vučić.
After the talks between Macron and Vučić, representatives of Serbia and France last night exchanged 11 more signed documents, including a letter of engagement to assess the potential for the development of a civil nuclear program in Serbia within the Memorandum of Understanding between the French power company EDF and the Serbian government. A Declaration of Intent was also signed between the Government of Serbia for the strategic supply of ores and metals to France and for partnership and cooperation in the field of research and exploitation of critical and strategic mineral resources.
Vučić said that the signed agreements show that the cooperation of these two countries extends through all spheres of social life.
"There are some of the key things for us and very important things about potential cooperation within the development of nuclear programs that I asked President Macron for." Because in ten years, everyone must understand that Serbia will not have enough electricity if it does not use nuclear energy. France has 70 percent of its energy through nuclear reactors, nuclear programs. It's about clean energy, it's the only way for us to provide enough energy," said Vučić.
In Serbia, there is a ban on the construction of nuclear facilities dating back to 1989, but changes to the existing Energy Act have been announced.
Macron said that with his presence he wanted to once again send a message of French friendship to Serbia, stressing that in the last five years, relations between Serbia and France have experienced a new upswing. "Our economic cooperation has strengthened. French companies have been engaged in infrastructure projects for the long term," said the French president.
The focus of Macron's visit to Serbia was precisely the procurement of French Rafale aircraft, which the French president's cabinet described as part of a broader strategy of "bringing Serbia closer to the European Union."
Macron also, in a message to the Serbian public published yesterday, tried to encourage Serbia to continue striving for a future in the EU, but stated that "the prospect of joining the European Union does not seem to be as attractive as it should be". Macron indicated that there is "concern and fatigue regarding the pace of accession negotiations, but sometimes also a certain resentment, even mistrust" towards the EU.
"Today I am coming to Serbia again with a simple message: the European Union and its peoples need a strong and democratic Serbia in their ranks, and Serbia needs a strong and sovereign European Union to defend and promote its interests while respecting its identity," Macron said. in a letter published in the newspaper "Danas".
Before the arrival of the French president in Belgrade, foreign media announced that the focus of the visit is the sale of fighter jets, emphasizing that it is a country that maintains close ties with Russia despite its invasion of Ukraine.
For more than two years, Serbia has been considering the purchase of new "Rafal" planes, since Croatia bought 12 used fighter planes of the same type for about one billion euros, the American Associated Press agency announced. The purchase of Rafal aircraft allows Serbia to modernize its air force, which mainly consists of Soviet-made MiG-29 fighters and old Yugoslav fighter planes, the text adds.
According to Vuk Vuksanović, a researcher at the Belgrade Center for Security Policy, Vučić is looking for a replacement for the old "flashes", and "if he doesn't find one, neighboring Croatia will have air supremacy in the Western Balkans with its 'bursts', which Vučić's ego cannot accept”.
Vuksanović, in a statement to the AFP agency, said that Vučić believes that by purchasing "rifles", which are an extremely expensive product of the French arms industry, he will "buy the political protection and services of President Macron".
French media also dealt with Macron's visit to Belgrade yesterday, with the assessment that it is being held at a sensitive moment for France amid political uncertainty and the search for a prime minister and a new government.
The newspaper "Parisien" reported that, in the midst of a political crisis, Macron is "running away to Serbia" due to the conclusion of a contract for the sale of 12 Rafale aircraft. "When things get crowded in Paris, the president travels and chooses the international scene, his reserved area. "Specially reserved, if the trip ends with the signing of major contracts," the newspaper said.
The newspaper "Liberasion" announced that Macron "is going on a business trip to Serbia, where he will meet with the nationalist and populist president Vučić." "Despite the violation of human rights and the closeness of the Serbian authorities to Moscow, the sale of 12 'rifles' should be made official," the newspaper said.
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