Source: AFP
President Aleksandar Vucic told AFP on Wednesday that Serbia expects to sign a “huge” deal for French fighter jets during a visit by the French leader this week, a deal estimated to be worth billions of dollars.
Vucic made the comments ahead of President Emmanuel Macron’s two-day visit to Serbia starting Thursday, with the duo expected to sign a number of bilateral agreements during the trip.
The Serbian president did not specify the number of French Rafale jets to be purchased or the final cost of the contract if the deal is signed.
“It’s a huge contract for this country and it’s not a small contract even for France,” Vucic said during an exclusive interview with AFP, describing what is expected to be a multibillion-dollar deal.
In the past, Serbia’s defense ministry said the country wanted to buy 12 planes from Paris to replace its aging fleet of fighter jets.
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Last year, Vucic hinted that Belgrade was ready to spend around three billion euros on the possible purchase of French warplanes.
“Most of our aircraft or all of our aircraft, all of our interceptors and all of our fighter jets came from Russia and now we have to change ourselves, our habits and everything else to prepare our military,” Vucic added. .
If signed, the deal would be the latest in a series of arms deals with Europe, China and Russia made possible by increased spending by Belgrade over the past decade.
Lithium protests
Macron’s visit comes as Vucic continues to juggle the coveted goal of joining the European Union while dealing with domestic concerns about what exactly that might entail.
Vucic is facing a backlash over his government’s decision to re-issue permits to Anglo-Australian mining giant Rio Tinto to develop a controversial lithium mine after the country’s top court overturned an earlier shutdown decision.
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The future of the massive mineral deposits near the western city of Loznica has been a political flashpoint in the Balkan country for years, with critics of the project saying the mine threatens to contaminate a vital water source.
Vucic remained steadfast in his support for the project.
“We will remain persistent and tough on this because we believe this is of the utmost importance for Serbia and this is for the benefit of the Serbian people,” the president told AFP.
Many in Serbia, however, remain opposed to the project.
Tens of thousands have taken to the streets to protest the government’s reversal on the mine and a subsequent deal with the EU to grow lithium supply in the bloc seen as a critical building block in achieving Europe’s transition to a green economy.
Source: AFP
