Serbia has officially opened a manufacturing facility dedicated to assembling advanced drones produced by an Israeli partner, a move designed to supply both the Serbian Armed Forces and foreign militaries. President Aleksandar Vucic inaugurated the site on Thursday, describing the initiative as part of a broader strategy to strengthen national defense capabilities.
“Our plans are huge,” Vucic stated in a social media post that featured footage of him touring the site alongside Israeli Ambassador Avivit Bar-Ilan. He confirmed that at least three additional factories involving Israeli partnerships are planned across the country. The new facility is expected to employ approximately 100 workers and produce cutting-edge equipment for domestic and international buyers.
The exact location of the plant and the identity of the Israeli corporation were not disclosed during the opening ceremony. Officials excluded journalists from the event, citing the need to maintain confidentiality regarding the production process. However, previous reports by the investigative outlet BIRN and the Israeli newspaper Haaretz have identified Elbit Systems as the defense contractor behind the manufacturing partnership. Elbit has faced significant criticism in the past for its role in military operations in Gaza and the West Bank.
Vucic emphasized that the strategic goal of the facility is to “preserve peace and stability” by ensuring Serbia is sufficiently powerful to deter potential aggressors. As one of the few nations in the Western Balkans outside of NATO, Serbia has prioritized heavy military investment to uphold its policy of neutrality.
The partnership has drawn attention to Serbia’s growing defense ties with Israel. According to reporting by BIRN and Haaretz, arms exports from Serbia to Israel surged from 1.4 million euros in 2023 to 42.3 million euros in 2024. Earlier this year, Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories, visited Belgrade and described Serbia as one of Israel’s “most steadfast and determined allies,” despite global calls for countries to restrict weapons sales amid the ongoing war in Gaza.
Leave a Reply