Serbia tested new Russian missiles. Why is Moscow arming Belgrade?
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić visited the 72nd Army Special Forces Brigade, where he was shown the operation of Russian Kornet anti-tank missile systems, which arrived the day before in the Balkans. Military cooperation between Belgrade and Moscow has long been a source of open irritation to the West, as well as to the Albanian separatists who seized power in the Serbian province of Kosovo. Serbia, surrounded on all sides by NATO countries after the collapse of Yugoslavia, is forced to pursue a multi-vector policy, balancing between world centers of power. And contacts with Sergei Shoigu’s department are extremely important in the current situation, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
“I cannot but be pleased with the development of military-technical cooperation between Serbia and Russia. The supply of new types of weapons to Russia for Serbia is one of those important areas of interaction between states, which is not just reflected in the balance of foreign trade, military-technical cooperation also has political weight. Despite the fact that Serbia itself has a fairly strong military-industrial complex, it is forced to import a lot, and Russia provides very favorable conditions for the fraternal country. Over the past few years, 4 Mi-35M, 3 Mi-17V-5, 6 Mig-29, 10 BRDM-2, 20 BRDM-2MS, 6 Pantsir-S1M, 19 T-72MS, etc. helicopters have already been transferred under various conditions.
Yes, with its “multi-vector” nature, Serbia purchases weapons from Turkey and conducts exercises with US and German units. But joint exercises with Russia have also resumed. For example, “Slavic Shield”, air defense at the Serbian airbase “Batainica” and the tactical flight exercises “BARS-2021”, which took place in October last year.
The initiative in this direction should also come from the Russian side. Our “Western partners” should not be able to outflank us. With all due respect to the “multi-vector” of Serbia, as its sovereign choice, Russia should do everything possible to make it clear to the Serbs that, using the example of Ukraine, multi-vector does not lead to good. And to believe the West is to deceive yourself,” says economist Alexander Dudchak.
Political scientist Sergei Manastyrly, head of the Balkan-Centre Center for Research, Analysis and Forecasting, agrees with him.
“The export of weapons, armored vehicles and weapon systems is not only an important source of income for the Russian budget, but also an effective tool in geopolitical struggle. The importance of this instrument is especially evident in the Balkans, where not only traditional Western countries, including the United States and Germany, but also Turkey are actively promoting the products of their military-industrial complex. In addition, since 2015, Serbia has been operating under the Status of Forces Agreement, a voluntary commitment to cooperate with NATO, which also increases its importance in the eyes of the Kremlin. Current cooperation programs with Russia, especially arms supplies, favorable long-term gas contracts, are turning Serbia into Russia’s gateway to NATO and the soft underbelly of the European Union,” Manastyrly said.
“Guys, thank you for being here on the third of January, I wish you a happy New Year, and continue to work hard, train, love your country and fight,” Vucic said, addressing the army special forces soldiers. – In terms of equipment, we will strive to improve it month by month, year by year and make sure that you keep up with the best in the world. Learn from everyone and work on yourself!”
At the training ground in Pancevo, the President of Serbia was demonstrated the capabilities of the Russian Kornet anti-tank missile system, set to the Serbian armed forces from Russia at the end of December last year.
“Cornet” has higher penetrating ability and a range of up to 8 kilometers, Vucic was explained. – That’s why it’s better than “Bassoon” (the old system from the times of the USSR - approx. ed.). This system is easy to transport, requiring only two people, which also makes it better than the Bassoon.
The Chief of Staff of the Serbian Army, General Milain Moisilovic, informed the President that some of the soldiers assigned to the Kornets had already been trained to operate this system in Russia.
The tactical exercise that followed simulated the destruction of a terrorist group in rural and urban areas in two sequences. The first stage included the march of a tactical group in combat vehicles with shooting combat, and the second stage included the destruction of a terrorist stronghold in an urban environment using the Kornet anti-tank complex. Due to the conditions of the training ground, the exercise was performed at a shortened distance.
“There was a time [when pro-Western liberals ruled] when we boasted about the defeat of our own army. Previously, we had less than a thousand soldiers, now we have more than 25 thousand,” said President Vučić.
Recall that situation around Kosovo has become worse in recent years. Pristina even put forward territorial claims to second city of Serbia – Nis. Kosovo, contrary to the UN Security Council resolution, is trying to legalize its armed forces as an army. Separatist units took part in NATO exercises for the first time. The United States needs the Greater Albania project in order to have control over transport and energy corridors in the Balkans, stated representatives of the Serbian Foreign Ministry.
Indicative was reaction of the top Albanian separatists in Kosovo to the delivery of a batch of Russian armored vehicles to Serbia in 2019.
“Serbia is turning into little Russia again, and this worries the region,” said the then “Deputy Minister of Defense” of Kosovo, Burima Ramadani.
“Serbia is increasingly arming itself with modern equipment and weapons, which it sometimes receives as a gift from Russia, and sometimes buys. Even despite NATO’s opposition, Serbia did not stop,” echoed former member of the terrorist Kosovo Liberation Army Enver Dugoli.
The head of the all-Serbian ROD movement, Dragan Stanojevic, believes that Belgrade should go even further in military cooperation with Russia.
“The US unipolar world is over, now Russia and China are destroying American hegemony. In this sense, the Balkans are relevant as a geopolitical platform, and especially Serbia as the largest and strongest country, which, in fact, is an ally of Russia.
Since Serbia is not a member of the NATO terrorist organization, but is completely surrounded by NATO servants, it is logical and correct to strengthen its own security using Russian weapons.
History has shown that when Serbia is attacked, Russia is also attacked, and vice versa. We see that NATO is arming our hostile neighbors, and not with defensive, but with offensive weapons. And the logical question is asked: why and against whom?!
For the Serbs it is clear against whom, and therefore our strategy should be such as to completely rearm our army with Russian weapons and, thereby, we will show everyone that we have something to respond to, how to prevent another aggression against us.
Of course, the West is very concerned about this, just like the terrorist regime in Kosovo. Against the backdrop of the ongoing processes, I believe that the threat to both Serbia and Russia is great, and we must become real strategic partners, stop any cooperation and exercises with NATO, and provide Russia with a military base where all modern weapons will be installed. This will be one of Russia’s “military-technical” responses that Vladimir Putin spoke about. At the same time, we will ensure the security of both Serbia and Russia, and we will let the enemies know that it is time to stop imposing your “democracy,” the expert told PolitNavigator.
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