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Serbia hosts first joint military exercise with NATO

Serbia hosts first joint military exercise with NATO

Summary

Serbia and NATO have started their first joint military exercise, involving about 600 troops from several countries. The two-week drills aim to promote peace and cooperation, despite Serbia’s history and policy of military neutrality.

Key Facts

  • The military exercise runs from May 9 to May 23 near Bujanovac in southern Serbia.
  • Around 600 soldiers from Serbia, Italy, Romania, and Turkiye are participating.
  • Military experts from nine countries, including the US and the UK, are observing.
  • This is Serbia’s first direct exercise with NATO, although it has joined NATO’s Partnership for Peace program for nearly 20 years.
  • Serbia was bombed by NATO in 1999 during the Kosovo conflict, making cooperation sensitive.
  • NATO maintains a peacekeeping force in Kosovo, which Serbia does not recognize as independent.
  • Serbia is not a NATO member and keeps a neutral military stance, balancing ties with NATO and Russia.
  • Serbia has bought military equipment from NATO countries, Russia, and China over the last decade.
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