MoD says Rafale purchase does not violate Serbia’s military neutrality

It said those claims are groundless and meant to deceive the public.

President Aleksandar Vucic confirmed during a visit to Paris earlier this week that the Serbian military would get 12 Dassault Rafale fighter aircraft.

A Defense Ministry statement said that military neutrality means that Serbia decided not to join any of the existing military alliances and would decide independently on defense issues. It recalled that state-of-the-art aircraft, AA system, radar, combat vehicles, electronic systems and other equipment had been bought from Russia, China, the USA, Spain and France over the past few years in line with the specifications of the General Staff to meet the needs of subordinate units.

“None of those purchases, nor the procurement of the Rafale mulit-role aircraft does not nor can they be in violation of Serbia’s military neutrality but is solely an act of statesmanship, patriotic and professional responsibility for the defense of the country and the security of all of its citizens,” it said.

The Defense Ministry also appealed to all political players in the country to leave defense issues out of their daily political agenda and unite on national and security interests especially in times of global instability.