French President Macron's Visit to Serbia: Strengthening EU Ties and Discussing Rafale Deal
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France's Macron visits Serbia to boost EU ties, discuss Rafale deal
BELGRADE (Reuters) - France's President Emmanuel Macron travels to Belgrade on Thursday to bolster ties with Serbia and bring it closer to the West, as the Balkan country juggles its European Union membership bid and close ties with Russia and China. During his two-day visit, Macron and his counterpart, Serbia's populist Aleksandar Vucic, plan to discuss issues including the purchase of France's Rafale fighters, made by Dassault, as well as energy and artificial intelligence. It will be Macron's second meeting with Vucic this year and follows the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Belgrade in May, highlighting Serbia's strategic position on the edge of the EU, with ties to the east and west. In an op-ed piece in Serbia's pro-government Politika daily on Thursday, Macron wrote that Belgrade could maintain its independent posture "only under the auspices of the EU." "When war once again broke out on our continent, initiated by Russia, ... the idea that Serbia could seek its own way in the eternal game of balancing between powers ... is just an illusion." The EU remains Serbia's single biggest investor and hundreds of thousands of Serbs work in Western-owned companies. Late on Wednesday, Vucic said there were unresolved issues with the purchase of Rafale aircraft, estimated at around 3 billion euros ($3.34 billion). "It is not a question of the price, it is a question of certain guarantees ... we have been struggling with this for four days," he told state RTS TV. DEPENDENT ON RUSSIAN GAS Aleksandar Zivotic, a history lecturer at the Belgrade University, described the aircraft sale as a "historical and political departure from Soviet-Russian influence." "Such a military technology is not only bought with money, but with foreign policy position pledges," he said. Belgrade curtailed military cooperation with Moscow after Russia invaded Ukraine and it has condemned the invasion, but unlike the EU and other Western countries, it has not imposed sanctions on Moscow. Serbia's military and air force are loosely based on Soviet technology, but it has also purchased helicopters and transport planes from Airbus, radars from Thales and France's Mistral surface-to-air missiles. Belgrade, which seeks to diversify its gas supplies, is dependent on Russian gas and has the Kremlin's support in its opposition to the 2008 independence of Kosovo. Vucic said he and Macron would tackle cooperation in the fields of energy and artificial intelligence and that the two countries would sign a number of corresponding agreements. Before it joins the EU, Serbia would have to improve democracy, the rule of law and judiciary, root out corruption, red tape and organised crime, and align its foreign policies with those of Brussels, including the introduction of sanctions against Russia. (Reporting by Aleksandar Vasovic; Editing by William Maclean)
[2]
France's Macron visits Serbia to boost EU ties, discuss Rafale deal
BELGRADE - France's President Emmanuel Macron travels to Belgrade on Thursday to bolster ties with Serbia and bring it closer to the West, as the Balkan country juggles its European Union membership bid and close ties with Russia and China. During his two-day visit, Macron and his counterpart, Serbia's populist Aleksandar Vucic, plan to discuss issues including the purchase of France's Rafale fighters, made by Dassault, as well as energy and artificial intelligence. It will be Macron's second meeting with Vucic this year and follows the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Belgrade in May, highlighting Serbia's strategic position on the edge of the EU, with ties to the east and west. In an op-ed piece in Serbia's pro-government Politika daily on Thursday, Macron wrote that Belgrade could maintain its independent posture "only under the auspices of the EU." "When war once again broke out on our continent, initiated by Russia, ... the idea that Serbia could seek its own way in the eternal game of balancing between powers ... is just an illusion." The EU remains Serbia's single biggest investor and hundreds of thousands of Serbs work in Western-owned companies. Late on Wednesday, Vucic said there were unresolved issues with the purchase of Rafale aircraft, estimated at around 3 billion euros . "It is not a question of the price, it is a question of certain guarantees ... we have been struggling with this for four days," he told state RTS TV. DEPENDENT ON RUSSIAN GAS Aleksandar Zivotic, a history lecturer at the Belgrade University, described the aircraft sale as a "historical and political departure from Soviet-Russian influence." "Such a military technology is not only bought with money, but with foreign policy position pledges," he said. Belgrade curtailed military cooperation with Moscow after Russia invaded Ukraine and it has condemned the invasion, but unlike the EU and other Western countries, it has not imposed sanctions on Moscow. Serbia's military and air force are loosely based on Soviet technology, but it has also purchased helicopters and transport planes from Airbus, radars from Thales and France's Mistral surface-to-air missiles. Belgrade, which seeks to diversify its gas supplies, is dependent on Russian gas and has the Kremlin's support in its opposition to the 2008 independence of Kosovo. Vucic said he and Macron would tackle cooperation in the fields of energy and artificial intelligence and that the two countries would sign a number of corresponding agreements. Before it joins the EU, Serbia would have to improve democracy, the rule of law and judiciary, root out corruption, red tape and organised crime, and align its foreign policies with those of Brussels, including the introduction of sanctions against Russia.
[3]
France's Macron Visits Serbia to Boost EU Ties, Discuss Rafale Deal
BELGRADE (Reuters) - France's President Emmanuel Macron travels to Belgrade on Thursday to bolster ties with Serbia and bring it closer to the West, as the Balkan country juggles its European Union membership bid and close ties with Russia and China. During his two-day visit, Macron and his counterpart, Serbia's populist Aleksandar Vucic, plan to discuss issues including the purchase of France's Rafale fighters, made by Dassault, as well as energy and artificial intelligence. It will be Macron's second meeting with Vucic this year and follows the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Belgrade in May, highlighting Serbia's strategic position on the edge of the EU, with ties to the east and west. In an op-ed piece in Serbia's pro-government Politika daily on Thursday, Macron wrote that Belgrade could maintain its independent posture "only under the auspices of the EU." "When war once again broke out on our continent, initiated by Russia, ... the idea that Serbia could seek its own way in the eternal game of balancing between powers ... is just an illusion." The EU remains Serbia's single biggest investor and hundreds of thousands of Serbs work in Western-owned companies. Late on Wednesday, Vucic said there were unresolved issues with the purchase of Rafale aircraft, estimated at around 3 billion euros ($3.34 billion). "It is not a question of the price, it is a question of certain guarantees ... we have been struggling with this for four days," he told state RTS TV. DEPENDENT ON RUSSIAN GAS Aleksandar Zivotic, a history lecturer at the Belgrade University, described the aircraft sale as a "historical and political departure from Soviet-Russian influence." "Such a military technology is not only bought with money, but with foreign policy position pledges," he said. Belgrade curtailed military cooperation with Moscow after Russia invaded Ukraine and it has condemned the invasion, but unlike the EU and other Western countries, it has not imposed sanctions on Moscow. Serbia's military and air force are loosely based on Soviet technology, but it has also purchased helicopters and transport planes from Airbus, radars from Thales and France's Mistral surface-to-air missiles. Belgrade, which seeks to diversify its gas supplies, is dependent on Russian gas and has the Kremlin's support in its opposition to the 2008 independence of Kosovo. Vucic said he and Macron would tackle cooperation in the fields of energy and artificial intelligence and that the two countries would sign a number of corresponding agreements. Before it joins the EU, Serbia would have to improve democracy, the rule of law and judiciary, root out corruption, red tape and organised crime, and align its foreign policies with those of Brussels, including the introduction of sanctions against Russia. ($1 = 0.8988 euros) (Reporting by Aleksandar Vasovic; Editing by William Maclean)
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French President Emmanuel Macron's visit to Serbia aims to bolster EU relations and negotiate a potential Rafale fighter jet deal. The visit highlights France's diplomatic efforts in the Balkans and its strategic interests in the region.
Macron's Diplomatic Mission to Serbia
French President Emmanuel Macron embarked on a significant diplomatic visit to Serbia, marking a crucial step in strengthening ties between the Balkan nation and the European Union. The visit, which began on Monday, is part of France's broader strategy to enhance its influence in the region and support Serbia's potential EU membership
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.Focus on EU Integration
During his meetings with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, Macron emphasized the importance of Serbia's integration into the European Union. The French leader expressed his commitment to supporting Serbia's EU aspirations, highlighting the need for continued reforms and regional cooperation
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. This visit is seen as a significant boost to Serbia's EU membership bid, which has been ongoing since 2014.Rafale Fighter Jet Deal Discussions
A key aspect of Macron's visit is the potential sale of Rafale fighter jets to Serbia. The two countries are in talks for a possible deal involving 12 new Rafale jets, which would significantly modernize Serbia's air force
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. This deal, if finalized, would not only strengthen military ties between France and Serbia but also represent a strategic shift in Serbia's defense partnerships.Regional Stability and Kosovo Issue
The visit also addresses the ongoing tensions between Serbia and Kosovo. Macron is expected to discuss ways to normalize relations between the two countries, a crucial step for Serbia's EU integration process
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. France's involvement in mediating this long-standing dispute underscores its commitment to promoting stability in the Balkans.Related Stories
Economic Cooperation and Investments
Beyond political and military discussions, Macron's visit aims to boost economic ties between France and Serbia. The two leaders are expected to explore opportunities for increased French investment in Serbia, particularly in sectors such as infrastructure, energy, and technology
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.Implications for Regional Dynamics
Macron's visit to Serbia is part of a broader diplomatic effort by France in the Balkans. It follows his recent trip to Moldova and precedes a planned visit to Kosovo, demonstrating France's renewed focus on the region
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. This diplomatic push comes at a time when other global powers, including Russia and China, are also vying for influence in the Balkans, making France's engagement particularly significant for regional geopolitics.References
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