Türkiye, Serbia set to enhance defence collaboration with focus on drones

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that Türkiye and Serbia are set to expand their defence cooperation to include unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

“In our discussions on defence arrangements, my dear friend Aleksandar Vucic and I explored possibilities for collaboration in the field of UAVs,” Erdogan stated at a joint press conference with Vucic in Belgrade, Caliber.Az reports citing foreign media.

He emphasized that drones would be integral to their forthcoming initiatives, highlighting that both countries possess relevant capabilities that will be evaluated by their respective ministers.

Erdogan acknowledged that the forthcoming defence steps may not please everyone. “However, it is we, the two political leaders, who make the decisions. No other countries should attempt to dictate what should be included in the defence cooperation between Türkiye and Serbia,” he asserted.

The Turkish president elaborated that the aim of this collaboration is to establish a defence industry capable of ensuring peace in the region. “We will leverage all available opportunities as we move forward. Currently, the volume of business cooperation between our nations stands at $1 billion, with 95 projects underway that employ over 10,000 people, significantly contributing to Serbia's development. Additionally, Turkish investments in Serbia have reached $1.405 billion over the past 12 years,” Erdogan revealed.

During the visit, both parties signed 11 memorandums and agreements, including an agreement to form a working group involving their governments to enhance cooperation in the defence sector.

By Tamilla Hasanova