Serbia Plans Joint Exercise with Russia in 2016

Serbia's Defence Ministry told BIRN that special forces of the Serbian Army will hold a joint tactical exercise in Serbia with Russian airborne units, most likely in the second half of this year.

"The main reason for the implementation of these and all other military exercises with various foreign partners is to increase the operational and functional capabilities of the Serbian Army," the Defence Ministry said.

This exercise is a part of a concerted plan to boost military cooperation with the Russian Federation in 2016.

Vladimir Shamanov, Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Airborne Troops, confirmed on Thursday that one of the arenas of Russian military activities in 2016 will be in Serbia.

"Our units will participate in a tactical exercise in Serbia, in an exercise with the Egyptian armed forces and in a joint peace-keeping and humanitarian mine-clearing exercise in India, as well as in three exercises by special operations units in Belarus," TASS news agency cited Shamanov as saying.

The Serbian Army cooperates with the military in more than 60 countries.

Last year, Serbia implemented 24 military exercises with foreign partners, twice with the Russian armed forces.

Serbia's close relations with Russia are a sensitive issue in the country's EU accession process because Belgrade has refused to join the EU sanctions imposed against Moscow over Ukraine.

Serbia has stressed on numerous occasions that EU integration is its strategic priority but that it also wishes to maintain warm relations with Russia, a traditional ally.

Serbia proclaimed a doctrine of military neutrality in December 2007 and the current government under Aleksandar Vucic has announced no plans to change the policy.