Serbia is moving ahead with the renewal of its Armed Forces’ military equipment and is seeking to boost cooperation with the French defense industry, a nation that could sponsor its accession to the European Union (EU).

On Thursday, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic announced plans to improve collaboration with France in the defense industry, indicating that Belgrade is definitively moving away from Moscow, both as a supplier of weapons systems and as an international ally.

Reuters reports that Vucic will meet on April 8 with French President Emmanuel Macron and plans to discuss strengthening cooperation in special-purpose industries, including defense. «One of the topics will be special purpose industry and cooperation of our special purpose industries,» Vucic said.

Serbia, a European Union candidate, has one of the largest Armed Forces in the Balkans, but remains dependent on much Soviet-designed materiel, such as MiG-29 Fulcrum fighters and MI-35 Hind combat helicopters, as well as Russian missiles and armor.

Efforts to modernize and westernize the Serbian Armed Forces picked up speed in recent years, with the purchase of several H145 helicopters (seeking to become the largest regional helicopter power) and C295 transport aircraft, both Airbus products.

Looking ahead, President Vucic again mentioned the potential acquisition of French Dassault Rafale fighters, which would replace the MiG-29. Belgrade also wants to strengthen cooperation with Airbus by establishing a local facility for the development and maintenance of H125M helicopters in Serbia, which would replace the 12 Gazelle light helicopters still operational in the Armed Forces.

«We will accelerate cooperation on Airbus helicopters,» Vucic stated.

All these issues will be on the table at the talks between Aleksandar Vucic and Emmanuel Macron on April 8, where they will undoubtedly discuss how to accelerate Serbia’s entry into the European Union.