By Aleksandar Vasovic
BELGRADE (Multibagger) - French President Emmanuel Macron is set to arrive in Belgrade on Thursday, aiming to strengthen ties with Serbia and pivot the Balkan country closer to Western alliances. This visit comes as Serbia balances its aspirations for European Union membership with its longstanding relationships with Russia and China.
During this pivotal two-day visit, Macron will meet with Serbia's populist leader, Aleksandar Vucic, to discuss key issues including the acquisition of France's Rafale fighter jets, produced by Dassault, as well as collaborations in energy and artificial intelligence.
This marks Macron's second engagement with Vucic this year and follows a significant visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to Belgrade in May. The timing underscores Serbia's strategic importance, straddling both Eastern and Western spheres of influence.
In an op-ed published in Serbia's leading daily, Politika, Macron emphasized that Serbia could only maintain its independent stance "under the auspices of the EU."
"With the resurgence of conflict on our continent, initiated by Russia, the notion that Serbia can seek its own path in the perpetual game of power balancing is merely an illusion," Macron wrote.
The EU remains Serbia's largest investor, with hundreds of thousands of Serbs employed by Western-owned companies.
On Wednesday night, Vucic acknowledged unresolved issues surrounding the Rafale jet deal, estimated at around 3 billion euros ($3.34 billion).
"The issue is not the price, but certain guarantees. We have been wrestling with this for four days," Vucic told state broadcaster RTS TV.
Dependence on Russian Gas
Aleksandar Zivotic, a history lecturer at Belgrade University, described the potential aircraft purchase as a "historical and political departure from Soviet-Russian influence."
"Such military technology isn't just bought with money, but also with foreign policy commitments," Zivotic explained.
Belgrade scaled back military cooperation with Moscow following Russia's invasion of Ukraine and has condemned the aggression. However, unlike the EU and other Western nations, Serbia has not imposed sanctions on Moscow.
Serbia's military and air force are primarily based on Soviet technology, but the country has also purchased helicopters and transport planes from Airbus, radars from Thales, and France's Mistral surface-to-air missiles.
Despite efforts to diversify its gas supplies, Serbia remains dependent on Russian gas and relies on Kremlin support in its opposition to Kosovo's independence declared in 2008.
Vucic revealed that he and Macron would explore cooperation in energy and artificial intelligence, with several related agreements expected to be signed.
Before Serbia can join the EU, it must address key issues such as enhancing democracy, the rule of law, judiciary reforms, eradicating corruption, reducing bureaucracy, and aligning its foreign policies with Brussels, including the imposition of sanctions against Russia.
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Analysis: What This Means for You
In simple terms, this article talks about how France's President Macron is visiting Serbia to discuss important deals and relationships. Here's what you need to know:
- Strengthened Ties with the West: Macron's visit aims to pull Serbia closer to the EU and Western alliances, which could lead to more European investments and opportunities for Serbians.
- Military and Technology Deals: Serbia is considering buying French Rafale fighter jets and cooperating on energy and artificial intelligence. This could modernize Serbia's military and technological capabilities.
- Economic Impacts: With the EU being Serbia's largest investor, better relations could mean more jobs and economic growth. However, unresolved issues like the Rafale deal show that negotiations can be complex.
- Political Shifts: Moving away from Russian influence might mean changes in Serbia's foreign policy and military alliances. This could affect everything from energy supplies to geopolitical strategies.
- EU Membership Hurdles: To join the EU, Serbia must tackle corruption, improve its legal system, and align its policies with EU standards, including imposing sanctions on Russia.
Overall, Macron's visit could bring significant changes to Serbia's political, economic, and military landscape, impacting the lives and finances of its citizens.