Serbia and China have launched a new phase of strategic cooperation in space and aerospace technologies, further deepening ties between Belgrade and Beijing at a time when Serbia remains formally committed to European Union accession.
The announcement was made on Wednesday by Serbia’s Minister of Agriculture, Dragan Glamočić, during the first China–Serbia seminar on space technologies, held in Belgrade, according to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
Space Technologies as Part of Strategic Partnership
Speaking at the event, Glamočić said that space and aerial technologies are becoming a foundation of modern industry and digital transformation, with long-term social and economic implications.
“These technologies open space for solutions of lasting importance for society and the economy,” Glamočić stated.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, the application of these technologies in industry and agriculture is expected to improve food security, optimize resource use, and increase sustainability in Serbia’s agricultural sector.
The event also marked the official opening of the Joint China–Serbia Innovation Center for Aerial and Space Technologies, signaling an institutionalization of cooperation in a field with both civilian and dual-use potential.
Growing Dependence on Chinese Technology
Glamočić emphasized that Serbia offers skilled professionals, research institutions, and agricultural capacity, while China provides advanced technological solutions and implementation experience. Experts from the Harbin Polytechnic Institute in China participated in the seminar.
However, analysts note that space technologies are closely linked to surveillance, data collection, and military applications, raising concerns about transparency, oversight, and alignment with EU standards.
Parallel Expansion of Security and Military Cooperation
The announcement follows a recent visit to Belgrade by a delegation from China’s Ministry of Public Security, officially aimed at exchanging experiences in public communication. Serbia’s Interior Minister Ivica Dačić said that modern security challenges require fast and efficient communication with the public.
Critics argue that cooperation with Chinese security institutions, known for their role in domestic surveillance and repression, deepens Serbia’s drift away from European democratic norms.
EU Warnings and Strategic Contradictions
Serbia has been an EU candidate country since 2012, yet under President Aleksandar Vučić and the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), it has expanded political, economic, and military cooperation with China.
Brussels has repeatedly warned Serbia that it must align its foreign and security policy with the EU, particularly amid rising geopolitical tensions.
During Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Belgrade in May 2024, the two countries signed 28 bilateral agreements, including deals on media cooperation and extradition, further strengthening institutional ties.
Military Dimension Raises Regional Alarm
Although Serbia officially claims military neutrality, cooperation with China includes the purchase of advanced weapons systems. Serbia is the first European country to acquire Chinese FK-3 and HQ-17 air defense systems, as well as CH-92 and CH-95 combat drones.
Customs data show that Serbia imported approximately €240 million worth of defense-related goods from China in 2024 and the first half of 2025.
At a recent U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing, lawmakers warned that China is contributing to instability in the Western Balkans. Congressman Keith Self stated that Beijing is expanding its influence “by supplying weapons to Serbia.”
Vučić’s Balancing Act Under Scrutiny
President Aleksandar Vučić, who has visited Beijing multiple times in the past decade, recently announced preparations for another official visit to China, underscoring the regime’s strategic orientation.
Observers note that Vučić’s government continues to pursue an ambiguous foreign policy, publicly endorsing EU integration while deepening dependence on China in critical sectors, including infrastructure, defense, media, and now space technologies.
This approach, critics warn, undermines Serbia’s EU credibility and strengthens an authoritarian governance model reliant on opaque agreements and external power centers.
