"Moves like betrayal against Russia from a neighboring country."

As Western countries impose sanctions on Russia due to the Ukraine war, the latest move by Serbia, a historical ally of Russia, has become a topic of discussion. Serbia, a Balkan country with Slavic ethnic roots like the Russians, announced that it has halted arms trade under certain defense agreements between the two countries, citing geopolitical tensions and sanctions against Russia as reasons.

"SANCTIONS HAVE MADE IT DIFFICULT TO PROCURE WEAPONS FROM RUSSIA"

Serbia's Chief of General Staff, General Milan Mojsilovic, stated that international sanctions have hindered the delivery of new weapons from Russia. Mojsilovic expressed that diplomatic efforts have been insufficient to resolve these issues, noting that some agreements have been canceled while others have been postponed in hopes of normalizing international relations.

SERBIA HAS RENEWED ITS FIGHTER JETS NOT FROM RUSSIA BUT FROM FRANCE

Serbia, a candidate country for the European Union (EU), has historically been one of Russia's closest allies in Europe. However, the invasion of Ukraine has pressured Serbia to align its foreign policy more closely with the EU and Western countries. Last year, Serbia purchased 12 French Rafale jets worth 2.7 billion Euros to replace its old Russian MiG-29 fleet.

SERBIA'S WEAPONS STRATEGY IS STILL TIED TO RUSSIA

Serbia's provision of approximately 800 million dollars in military aid to Ukraine through third countries is another indication of the complexities in the country's defense and foreign policy. This aid surpasses contributions from some NATO members, showing that Serbia is increasingly in a complicated position between Russia and the West. Nevertheless, Serbia maintains the operational status of its Russian-made weapons and secures spare parts and maintenance through licensed production.

SERBIA IS TURNING TO CHINA FOR WEAPONS SUPPLY

As a strategic shift, Serbia has viewed China as an important arms supplier in recent years. This was highlighted by the purchase of the FK-3 air defense missile system from China. The FK-3 is the export version of China's HQ-22 medium-range air defense system and has the potential to replace Russia's S-400 system in Serbia's defense inventory. The FK-3 system has a range of up to 100 km and can target aerial threats up to an altitude of 27 km.