🇭🇷🇷🇸 Croatia's President Zoran Milanovic questions why Serbia purchased $3 billion worth of French Rafale fighter jets

First international reactions in the Bakan region have already arisen after the Serbian historic purchase:

Serbia is twice as underdeveloped as Croatia and is buying weapons to be prepared for a week-long fictitious war

It is worth noting that Croatia recently got approval from the US State Department over the sale of eight HIMARS rocket systems, along with projectiles and additional equipment for $390 million, as announced by the Pentagon.

@balkan_grad

🇨🇳🇷🇺❓🇫🇷🇷🇸 ESPIONAGE? Concerns over a Chinese investor suspected to be behind the $2.7 billion Rafale purchase in Serbia

A Chinese investor residing in Moscow has been identified as the key figure behind the recent $2.7 billion purchase of French Rafale fighter jets by Serbia, according to sources. This revelation has sparked significant concerns in Western capitals, particularly in France, where the national newspaper Le Monde has issued a stark warning about the potential risks associated with the sale.

Le Monde cautioned that the advanced technology of the Rafale jets could eventually fall into Russian and Chinese hands, given the close ties between Serbia and these two countries. The newspaper highlighted the potential for Russian and Chinese producers of anti-aircraft defenses to gain access to the jets and assess their performance in detail.

Serbia, under the leadership of President Aleksandar Vučić, has maintained a complex relationship with both Russia and China, raising alarms in the West about the strategic implications of such a significant arms deal.

The sale, which is seen as a major move by the Vučić regime, has intensified concerns that Serbia could become a testing ground for Russian and Chinese military technology, further complicating the already delicate geopolitical balance in the region.

French authorities are reportedly monitoring the situation closely, amid fears that the advanced Rafale technology could be compromised, leading to broader security implications for NATO and its allies.

@balkan_grad

🇷🇸 Serbian Deputy PM, Aleksandar Vulin:

Serbia's agreement to buy Rafale fighter jets from France will not worsen relations between Belgrade and Moscow.

Serbia remains militarily neutral and will not join the anti-Russian hysteria or any form of anti-Russian sanctions.

@balkan_grad

🇦🇿🇷🇸 Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry states that Azerbaijan and Serbia mutually support each other's territorial integrity and sovereignty"

@balkan_grad

🇷🇸🇷🇺 Serbia reaffirms alliance with Russia amid growing Western pressure

In a significant meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Serbian Deputy PM Aleksandar Vulin, both nations reaffirmed their long-standing and deep-rooted relationship, highlighting the enduring strategic alliance between Serbia and Russia.

Serbian Deputy PM stated that his country will never impose sanctions on Russia and will never join NATO. He also thanked Russian president for his country's support regarding Kosovo.

Russian President Putin stated that Serbia is an old friend of Russia with which relations are in great shape. He also said he waited for Serbian President Vučić attendance at the next BRICS summit.

@balkan_grad

🇪🇺🇷🇸 Someone didn't like this

🇷🇸🇷🇺 Serbian President Vučić refused Putin's invitation to the next BRICS summit saying that "important people will be coming from abroad" during the event

@balkan_grad

🇷🇸🇷🇺 CORRECTION: Serbian President Vučić said that he will see if he can attend the BRICS summit due to previously scheduled visits, a decision will be made between October 10th and 15th

@balkan_grad

🇮🇷🇷🇸 Iran declares its support to "Serbian territorial integrity"

@balkan_grad

🇽🇰 Foreign Ministry of the self-proclaimed Republic of Kosovo denounces that because of "Serbian masked men" who do not allow Kosovo Albanian vehicles go through Brnjak's crossing, it has been decided to close the crossing to all traffic

@balkan_grad

🇷🇸 Serbian protesters that blocked several entrances to the area only allow Serbian vehicles or ambulances to pass

@balkan_grad

🇷🇸❌🇽🇰 Self proclaimed Republic of Kosovo is replacing Serbian symbols near former sites of Serbian parallel institutions in northern Kosovo

@balkan_grad

🇷🇸 Medare crossing also affected by the blockades organized by Kosovo Serbs

Pristina has also decided to close this crossing that links the region with central Serbia to put pressure on demonstrators who only allow Serbs to pass.

@balkan_grad

🇷🇸🇽🇰 CURRENT SITUATION: crossings were reopened by Pristina and blockades were lifted

Serbian protesters apparently gave the Kosovar government until October 1st to comply with their demands under the threat of taking "more radical measures".

@balkan_grad