Serbia conducts unprecedented military drills with China amid EU concerns

Serbia is set to conduct military training exercises with China during the second half of July 2025, marking a historic first for an EU candidate country. Dubbed 'Peacekeeper 2025', this exercise will involve special units from both nations' armies and is scheduled to take place in Hebei Province, China. This collaboration is seen as a significant step in deepening military cooperation between Serbia and China, amidst the Balkan region's rising strategic importance for Beijing, which has invested heavily in infrastructure projects there. The military cooperation between Serbia and China has been growing stronger over recent years. Serbia has already made arms purchases from China, including advanced weaponry that makes it the first European country to operate a Chinese air defense system. Concerns have been raised by both Washington and Brussels regarding Serbia's procurement of arms from Russia and China, especially given the backdrop of heightened geopolitical tensions following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. In response to Serbia's military partnerships, an EU spokesperson highlighted the bloc's desire to ensure that Serbia remains a reliable partner that upholds shared European values and principles. They reiterated that as a candidate country, Serbia is expected to align its foreign policy with EU principles, a situation complicated by Serbia's declared military neutrality and its participation in NATO's 'Partnership for Peace' program. Analysts warn that these joint drills could undermine Serbia's commitment to its EU orientation, indicating a potential shift towards closer ties with non-European powers. Growing military cooperation has been evident since 2019, when Serbia engaged in joint police exercises and patrols with China. The deepening relationship reflects Serbia's 'multi-vector' foreign policy strategy, which aims to forge partnerships with a diverse array of global actors, including NATO, Russia, and the EU. Furthermore, China's military collaborations serve dual purposes: to gain international operational experience and to bolster its image as a major world power, particularly in light of the resistance from EU countries toward strengthening military ties with China.