Russian and Serbian MiG-29 Fighters Fly Together in Joint BARS-2017 Drills

Having received MiG-29 fighters from Russia at an 80% cost reduction, Serbia's Air Force has conducted joint aerial tactical exercises with Russia's own MiG fleet. Mi-8 helicopters were also involved in the exercises. Serbia remains one of Russia's few European military partners, and is reluctant to develop military ties with NATO following their thorough bombing of Belgrade in the 1990s. BARS-2017 (Brotherhood of Aviators of Russia and Serbia 2017) represents the third year in a row that the two air forces have trained jointly, and he exercises are taking place near Voronezh city in central Russia.

On October 20th Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu attended a ceremony at Batajnica Air Base on the outskirts of Belgrade for the delivery of Russia's military aid to Serbia - which included six MiG-29 fighters. Serbian President Vucic, who also attended the ceremony, thanked Moscow for the formidable 'gift' and presented Minister Shoigu with six daggers, each representing a fighters jet and each with the board numbers of the MiGs engraved on them. He expressed his thanks "for this beautiful gift, which Serbia has received. I hope that cooperation between Serbia bad Russia will continue developing in the future," which he said would help Serbia to preserve its sovereignty.

Military aid to Serbia and increasing military cooperation represents Moscow's attempt to maintain some influence in the European theatre following the fall of the Warsaw Pact and the absorption of much of the region into the NATO alliance. Belarus and Serbia currently remain Russia's only European military partners, but the future could see other countries - possibly Bulgaria or Hungary - forming closer military ties to Russia as their relations with the European Union falter. Turkey has also increased its cooperation with Russia, most notably through its purchase of the S-400 missile system, and this trend could well continue in future.