Serbia’s military ties with China raise EU concerns over membership path

Serbia’s expanding defence cooperation with China is raising fresh concerns within the European Union about the country’s long-term commitment to EU integration, particularly as Belgrade continues to diversify its military partnerships.

The Balkan state, which remains the only European buyer of advanced Chinese weaponry west of Belarus, has recently upgraded its arsenal to include supersonic missiles from China. Reports suggest that the acquisition of additional systems, including fighter jets, could be discussed during an upcoming visit by Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić to China next week, Bloomberg reports.

The growing military cooperation highlights Beijing’s increasing strategic presence in the Balkans, where Serbia has become a key partner. Chinese President Xi Jinping has previously described Serbia as “an ironclad friend,” while Beijing has backed Serbia’s position on Kosovo. In return, Serbia has supported China’s stance on Taiwan.

The development has fuelled doubts within the EU over Serbia’s accession prospects.

“There’s no legal way the EU could say ‘You can’t buy this,’ but it raises doubts about the commitment of Serbia to integrated security infrastructure,” said Florian Bieber, a professor of southeast European history and politics at Austria’s University of Graz. “But I don’t think that this is going to be ignored, that this would go under the radar entirely.”

An EU official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the bloc has warned Serbian leadership that increased Chinese investment could negatively affect its membership prospects.

However, amid competing global crises and divisions within the West, analysts suggest Brussels may be reluctant to escalate tensions with Belgrade, a candidate country since 2012. A European Commission spokesperson said accession discussions with Serbia remain focused on areas such as the rule of law and judicial independence.

“Buying Chinese military hardware is no longer a taboo for Serbia,” said aviation analyst Petar Vojinovic. His specialised website first reported the purchase of CM400 air-to-surface rockets after identifying them mounted on Serbian Air Force aircraft.

By Sabina Mammadli