Serbia Signs $3 Billion Deal to Buy 12 French Fighter Jets

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić announced a deal worth approximately $3 billion to purchase 12 French-made Rafale fighter jets on Aug. 28.

Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic (R) shakes hands with France's President Emmanuel Macron as they take part in a meeting at the Palace of Serbia in Belgrade on Aug. 29, 2024, during a two-day official visit of France's President in Serbia. Expectations are high that the two countries will sign a deal worth billions of euros to supply Rafale fighter jets to the Balkan country during a visit by President Emmanuel Macron to Belgrade that kicks off on Aug. 29, 2024. Elvis Barukcic/AFP via Getty Images

The Serbian government has entered an agreement with France to purchase 12 French-made fighter jets, in a sign Serbia may be shifting away from its reliance on Russian arms.

The French military aircraft maker Dassault Aviation announced that French President Emmanuel Macron, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, and Dassault Aviation CEO Éric Trappier had signed an agreement for Serbia’s military to purchase 12 Rafale fighter jets. The agreement came as Macron visited Belgrade, the Serbian capital, on Aug. 29.