Macron's Mission to Belgrade: Strengthening Ties Amid East-West Balance

French President Emmanuel Macron visits Serbia to strengthen ties as the Balkan country balances its EU membership bid with relationships with Russia and China. Key discussions include defense purchases and cooperation in energy and AI. Macron underscores the necessity of EU alignment for Serbia's political stability.

France's President Emmanuel Macron is set to visit Belgrade on Thursday to reinforce ties with Serbia, aiming to draw the Balkan nation closer to the Western bloc amid its EU membership bid and connections with Russia and China.

During his two-day visit, Macron and Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic will tackle a range of issues such as the acquisition of Rafale fighter jets, produced by Dassault, and collaborations in energy and artificial intelligence. This marks the second meeting between Macron and Vucic this year and follows a visit from Chinese President Xi Jinping to Belgrade in May, underscoring Serbia's pivotal role on the EU's periphery with dealings from both Eastern and Western powers.

In a Thursday op-ed in Serbia's Politika daily, Macron emphasized that Belgrade's independence can only be sustained under the EU's framework, especially amid the current geopolitical climate stirred by Russia's aggression. The European Union stands as Serbia's prime investor, yet unresolved issues regarding the Rafale deal highlight the complexities of the bilateral relationship.

(With inputs from agencies.)