US Warning for Serbia Comes After Buying Weapons From China

The United States Embassy in Serbia said 10 August that the selection this country makes for the purchase of arms should reflect Serbia's stated policy goal of a broader European integration.

“We recognise that buying military and defence equipment is a sovereign decision. However, governments must understand the risks and short- and long-term costs of doing business with Chinese companies”, the embassy said in a written response to Radio Free Europe.

In response to the embassy, states should be able to believe that buying these equipment will not harm their national security or their economic sovereignty.

This trust cannot exist when salesmen of military and defence equipment are subject to an authoritarian government like that of the People's Republic of China”, the embassy says.

The US encourages Serbia to commit to a closer relationship with the common EU security and defence policy.

“There are other vendors who do not owe authority regimes and who offer equipment that is capable of meeting Serbia's defence need and comparable to quality and cost”, the embassy stressed.

Free Europe Radio called for the US Embassy's position after Serbia's latest purchase of Chinese weapons.

Serbia has acquired a generation of land-air missiles from China, giving signs of deepening co-operation between Beijing and Belgrade.

Buying missile defence systems, FK-3, is included in the state arms company's annual report, Jugoimport SPR, which has been sent to the Agency for Business Records, has broadcast news agency Reuters.

Free Europe Radio has sent questions on the issue to the Ministry of Defence of Serbia, but has not received answers.

Serbia also purchased six military fears from China. Serbian President Aleksandar Vuciq was at the Batajnica military airport near Belgrade on 4 July, where military officials displayed fears parked while giving reporters an opportunity to photograph these military equipment.