The European Commission has warned Serbia that its path toward membership in the European Union requires clear strategic choices, including avoiding dependencies that could conflict with its integration goals, after Belgrade confirmed the purchase of Chinese supersonic missiles.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić said this week that Serbia had acquired Chinese CM-400 supersonic ballistic missiles, prompting concern from Brussels.
A European Commission spokesperson said that a “credible European path means commitment to regional stability and a shared understanding of the security challenges facing our continent,” according to remarks reported by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
The issue also drew reactions from regional officials. Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said Zagreb would inform fellow members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization about the development.
“We will discuss this with our partners in the alliance and alert them to such weaponry, which is new in the arsenal of the Serbian Armed Forces,” Plenković said.
Kosovo’s Defence Minister Ejup Maqedonci also criticised the move, saying claims by Serbian authorities that the country is arming itself for defensive purposes against neighbouring states are unfounded.
In comments to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Maqedonci said Serbia has been purchasing weapons from Russia and China for several years, adding that the acquisition “is not linked to any immediate threat to Serbia.”
Serbia, a candidate for EU membership, has sought to maintain ties with both Western countries and traditional partners such as China and Russia, a balancing act that has periodically drawn criticism from Brussels.