Russia sends S-400 missile systems to Serbia for military drill

Russia has announced on October 24, that a section of its S-400 missile defence systems will take part in a military drill in Serbia, underlining Moscow’s wish to keep a traditional ally on the side even as Belgrade pursues links with NATO and the European Union. Moscow's Defense Ministry said it will be the first time the sophisticated S-400s will be participating in military drills abroad together with a Pantsir missile battery. Serbia’s Defence Ministry said the exercises which are dubbed as Slavic Shield 2019 is aimed to simulate the use of a joint group in defending against enemy reconnaissance and offensive actions. It said in a statement that apart from anti-aircraft missile systems in use in the Serbian army, missile systems that are in use by the Russian Air Force will also be used in the live exercise set to run until October 29.

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The exercise commenced from October 23

The exercise commenced from Wednesday, October 23, however, it was not made public until the next day. Military neutrality was declared by Russia in 2006 after it joined NATO’s Partnership for Peace program in 2015, although it does not seek full membership in the U.S.-led alliance. Serbia also wants to open talks on EU membership. Russia is trying to achieve to keep fellow Orthodox Christian, Slavic Serbia within its sphere of geopolitical influence.

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The two countries have also strengthened their intelligence cooperation

Serbia's military is reportedly based on ex-Soviet weapons technology and has also obtained fighter jets as well as helicopters, tanks and armoured personnel carriers from Russia in recent years. The two countries have also strengthened their intelligence cooperation. Sergey Naryshkin, head of Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) told a local media agency that the two countries were performing complex mutual operations to protect their external interests. Serbia has trusted Russia for support in its continued refusal to recognise the independence of its former southern province of Kosovo. Serbia is also dependent on Russia for natural gas supplies and the largest local oil company Naftna Industrija Srbije is majority-owned by Russia’s Gazprom.

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