S-400 for Serbia: A response to the proposed US military bribe?
The American publication National Interest confirmed that Serbian military training on S-400 systems during exercises at a test site in Russia could mean preparations for the sale of installations to this Balkan country.
At the same time, the publication reports that the United States offered Belgrade a large shipment of weapons in exchange for recognition of the independence of the illegally seized region of Kosovo and Metohija.
“It is quite possible that the Serbian Ministry of Defense has been waiting for Russia to start offering the S-400 to even more countries, and now believes that this is the right time to buy. In September 2019, Russia and Serbia held their first joint air defense exercise, Slavic Shield. During these exercises, Serbian air defense forces learned to use the S-400 air defense system, practicing its use against various targets, both simulated and real,” the article says, reports a PolitNavigator correspondent.
At the same time, the publication recounts a rumor that Trump’s special envoy to the Western Balkans, Matthew Palmer, allegedly offered Serbia an F-16 squadron for $10 billion “and guaranteed EU membership” by 2024 in exchange for recognition of Kosovo’s independence.
“Serbia has recently been looking to the West in the field of arms purchases. This year it received several Airbus H145M helicopters and MBDA Mistral short-range anti-aircraft missiles. It is possible that Serbia is seeking to play games with both Russia and the West in an attempt to acquire better weapons for its military. S-400 training with Russia may just be another part of a long game,” the article says.
Previously reportedthat the Serbian Ministry of Defense intends to purchase a large batch of Pterodactyl-1 military drones from the Chinese company Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group.
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