Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić said he had “very good talks” with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris on 8 April, where the heads of state discussed an agreement on the purchase of French-made Rafale fighter jets to be signed within the next two months, Serbian media reported.
Vučić expressed satisfaction with the results of the talks, which lasted more than three hours. He was cited a saying by news agency Tanjug:
I am happy with the outcomes of those discussions. It brings me joy knowing that we thoroughly explored all facets of collaboration with one of the world’s most significant countries in an open and pragmatic manner.
President Vučić emphasised the importance of acquiring modern fighter jets such as Rafales. According to Radio Free Europe, Serbia and France have agreed to purchase 12 French-made Rafale fighter jets.
Vučić also said about the potential for increased cooperation with companies such as Thales and Airbus, especially in areas such as mobility systems and artificial intelligence. He claimed:
While we have an institute for AI, its scope remains somewhat generalised. We need to bridge the gap between AI experts and the economy to leverage it effectively, following the example set by French companies like Thales and Airbus.
Vučić spoke about Serbia’s ambitions in infrastructure development, including plans to build a metro and railways. He spoke about ongoing negotiations with French companies on innovative projects such as flying cars, which could be presented at Expo 2027 in Belgrade and serve as a symbol of progress in Serbia.
In addition to defence and technology, Vučić discussed possibilities for cooperation in addressing environmental issues such as waste management and water quality. He emphasised the importance of using French expertise to improve infrastructure and environmental sustainability in Serbia.
The Serbian president also expressed optimism about the possible establishment of a representative office of the French fashion company Louis Vuitton in Belgrade by 2026. Vučić noted the importance of this development for Serbia, both economically and in terms of tourism.
In a statement published on Instagram, President Vučić noted the existing positive economic ties between Serbia and France, while emphasising the potential for further development. With 339 French companies already operating in Serbia, employing more than 11,000 people, Vučić expressed optimism about further growth in both investments and trade between the two countries.
Speaking about the Kosovo issue, President Vučić acknowledged the difficulties encountered during the discussions on the former Serbian province with French President Emmanuel Macron, emphasising the complexity of the topics discussed. Despite the difficulties, Vučić expressed gratitude to President Macron for listening attentively to Serbia’s point of view during their talks in Paris.
Reflecting on their discussions, Vučić said that they dealt with various problems facing Serbia, and he believes that President Macron understood the issues raised. He noted:
I expressed the hope that France will extend its support to Serbia across all other spheres, particularly concerning our European trajectory and dialogue with Pristina.
Vučić also thanked President Macron for his personal commitment to maintaining stability in the Balkan region.
In 2008, Kosovo unilaterally declared independence from Serbia after a bloody conflict in 1998-1999. Despite engaging in an EU-mediated normalisation dialogue, the two countries have made limited progress in resolving their differences.
