Serbia-China military exercises, Rutte: I would distance myself from what Vucic is doing with China

NATO has observed the military exercises between Serbia and China with concern, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said. In an interview with RFE, Rutte said that conducting these exercises was Belgrade’s sovereign right, but added that the alliance viewed them with concern, The Geopost reports.

Although EU membership is a strategic goal, Serbia, under the leadership of Aleksandar Vučić, is deepening its relations with China. Both countries describe them as an “iron friendship” and a “strategic partnership.”

“Serbia can decide to do so. But we should not underestimate China. We know that China cooperates with Russia, North Korea, and Iran. Developments in the Indo-Pacific and Euro-Atlantic regions are therefore increasingly interlinked,” Rutte said.

The NATO Secretary General also commented on Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine. He said that any peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia must make it clear to Russian President Vladimir Putin that it is in his interest never to attack Ukraine again, and that security guarantees and international support play a key role in this./The Geopost/