Serbia mulls Russian Defence Ministry presence

BELGRADE, Serbia – Serbia is thinking of allowing a Russian Defence Ministry presence in the Balkan country, something that could further strain its relations with the West.

Serbia’s Defence Ministry said in a statement Tuesday that “legal proceedings” have been launched that would allow an agreement between the two governments on the opening of a Russian Defence Ministry mission in Belgrade.

It said that the agreement would further strengthen military co-operation between the two countries.

Media close to Serbia’s populist president, Aleksandar Vucic, praised the possible agreement, saying its goal is to help Belgrade create a strong army.

“Americans will go crazy,” read a headline by the pro-government Informer daily.

Despite formally seeking to join the European Union, Serbia has been strengthening close political and military ties with its Slavic ally Russia.

Serbia, which claims military neutrality, has pledged to stay out of NATO and refused to join Western sanctions against Russia for its policies in Ukraine. The Balkan country is the only remaining close Russian ally in the region and its neighbours are mostly NATO member states.

Russia’s arming of Serbia with warplanes, anti-aircraft systems and armoured vehicles is watched with unease in the West amid lingering tensions in the Balkans, which went through a devastating civil war in the 1990s. NATO intervened in Serbia to stop a bloody Serb crackdown against Kosovo Albanian separatists in 1999.

NATO has refused to comment on the possible opening of Russian Defence Ministry offices in Belgrade, referring an AP request to Serbian and Russian authorities.

NATO has had experts stationed in Belgrade helping the Serbian military align with Western military standards.