BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Russian ally Serbia took the delivery of a sophisticated Chinese anti-aircraft system in a veiled operation this weekend, amid Western concerns that an arms buildup in the Balkans at the time of the war in Ukraine could threaten the fragile peace in the region.
Highlights
- Six Chinese Air Force Y-20 transport planes landed at Belgrade’s commercial airport early Saturday, reportedly carrying HQ-22 surface-to-air missile systems for the Serbian military.
- The arms delivery over the territory of at least two NATO member states, Turkey and Bulgaria, was seen by experts as a demonstration of China’s growing global reach.
- Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic all but confirmed the delivery of the medium-range system that was agreed in 2019.
- Serbia will be the first operator of the Chinese missiles in Europe.
- The country is formally seeking EU membership, has already been boosting its armed forces with Russian and Chinese arms.