The armed forces of China and Serbia are set to conduct their first-ever joint military exercise, Peace Guardian 2025, in China’s northern Hebei province during the second half of July.
“It will help strengthen combat capabilities of participating troops and deepen cooperation between the two militaries,” China’s Ministry of National Defense spokesperson, Senior Colonel Jiang Bin, announced at a press briefing.
This would mark the first time China joined a combat-oriented military exercise with an aspiring European Union member.
However, this is not Beijing’s first time hosting drills with a European nation. It participated in a joint military exercise on humanitarian and medical support with Germany in July 2019, and it engaged in counterterrorism training with Russia-aligned Belarus in July 2024.
Serbia-China Connection
Serbia aims to maintain a neutral military stance, balancing relationships with its European neighbors while being considered as one of China’s closest partners.
Beijing and Belgrade inked a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2016, focusing on trade and economic cooperation.
In March 2021, both countries affirmed their commitment to boosting military cooperation.
Serbia is the only European country that uses Chinese weapons, according to the South China Morning Post.
It was the first in Europe to order Chinese-made drones in 2020, the CH-92A and CH-95 unmanned aerial vehicles.
In addition, Belgrade received the export version of China’s HQ-22 integrated air defense system, the FK-3, in 2022.
In January this year, the Balkan country officially inducted the Chinese-made system.
