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Serbia Seeks to Purchase More Warplanes to Strengthen its Armed Forces,
Potentially from Russia

VOA News

   Serbia is seeking to further strengthen its armed
   forcesbypurchasingmore warplanes, Serbian PresidentAleksandar Vucicsaid
   Sunday.

   Vucicmade the statement while visiting an army tank brigadeinSremska
   MitrovicainSerbia'sautonomous province of Vojvodina.

   "We cannot keep track of the gifts and donations that certain NATO
   counties in the neighborhood are getting from the United States,
   Germany and other countries and therefore we must fight alone to
   preserve the peace alone and to preserve our future alone,"Vucic said.

   Vucic did not specify what warplanesBelgradeplans to buybut said the
   intention is the safety of his country and the stability and peace in
   the Balkan region.

   "We, as a military neutral country, want to preserve our military
   neutrality, which means that we look after our sky alone, to look after
   our country alone. We will invest money and I believe that we, by not
   wanting to participate in any sort of race, will always be able to
   guarantee safety, stability but also peace," Vucic continued.

   Pro-government mediareported that Serbia hadofficially asked the United
   States for20 fighter-bombers, but Washington had not responded to the
   request.

   The report, however, speculated that in case of a U.S. refusal, Serbia
   was likely topurchase "Sukhoi-25" attack aircraftfrom Russia.

   "The Americans, Turks and Germans are taking care of their beloved
   child,"'¯Vucic said, referring to Kosovo.He saidWashington had
   recentlyequippedKosovo's security forceswith armoredvehicles.

   Althoughclaiming Serbia'smilitary neutrality,Belgradehas recently
   received a sophisticated anti-aircraft system from Russia,
   includingfighter jets, attack helicopters,and armored vehicles.

   Serbia has also obtainedmilitary dronesfromanother ally, China.

   TheU.S. has said that it would imposesanctions against Serbia if Moscow
   sends more arms to the country, which couldthreatenthe security
   ofneighboringNATOmembers.

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