France's Macron hopes to clinch sale of 12 Rafale fighter jets to Serbia this week

The International Paris Air Show at the Paris-Le Bourget Airport

FILE PHOTO: A demonstration of the French multirole fighter aircraft Dassault Rafale during the International Paris Air Show at the Paris-Le Bourget Airport, France June 19, 2023. Ludovic Marin/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

Source: X80003

French President Emmanuel Macron expects to seal a deal to sell 12 Dassault-made Rafale fighter jets to Serbia when he visits the country later this week, his office told journalists in a briefing on Wednesday.

Purchasing French Rafales would mark a shift away from Russia as Belgrade's historic weapons supplier. The country still relies on Soviet-designed MiG-29 jets, alongside Russian missiles and tanks.

The Elysee on Wednesday did not provide details on the model of jets or the volume of the sale.

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Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, who is due to meet with Macron on Thursday, flagged the possible deal during a visit to France in April. He previously told Reuters that 12 new Rafale jets could cost the Balkan country around 3 billion euros ($3.34 billion).

This article was produced by Reuters news agency. It has not been edited by Global South World.

By Reuters