Serbia and France sign $3bn deal for sale of French fighter jets
Al Jazeera
Sale comes as European nations try to coax Serbia away from traditional ally and weapons supplier Moscow.
France and Serbia have signed a $3bn agreement for the sale of 12 French-made Rafale fighter jets, as European countries try to coax Serbia away from close ties with Russia.
The landmark sale, signed by Serb Defence Minister Bratislav Gasic and Dassault Aviation CEO Eric Trappier on Thursday, comes as French President Emmanuel Macron visits Belgrade in a bid to bolster ties between the two nations.
“We are happy to become part of the Rafale club. We thank the president of France for making this decision and for enabling us to purchase the new Rafales,” Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic told reporters during the signing.
Macron says that the move will help bring Serbia, which has maintained close political and economic ties with Russia for years, closer to the European Union (EU). Thursday’s deal marks the largest weapons sale to Serbia, a frequent buyer of Russian weapons, since 2006.
