Serbian President: Joint Drone Factory with Israel to Open in September

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić announced that Serbia will open a drone factory in cooperation with Israel in September, likely around the 15th or 20th of the month. In a press statement in Belgrade, after a meeting with Ukrainian President Zelensky, Vučić emphasized that they did not discuss military cooperation. The factory, which will be a joint venture with Elbit Systems, is expected to be 'one of the most serious drone manufacturing facilities in the world'.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić said today that Serbia will open a drone factory with the Israelis in September, likely around the 15th or 20th of the month. The announcement was made at a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the Palace of Serbia in Belgrade. Vučić stressed that he did not discuss military cooperation with Zelensky, saying: 'We did not discuss military cooperation today, not in our days. What will happen when the war ends is a different question.' The factory, which will be a joint venture between two partners, is expected to be operational as early as the summer months. Vučić did not specify with whom Serbia is cooperating, likely for fear of political criticism from the left in his country. Serbian media reported that the factory will be co-owned by Israel's Elbit Systems and the state-owned import-export company SDPR, with the Israeli partner holding a majority of 51% of the shares. In early March, Vučić announced the upcoming opening of a drone factory, and in June he linked it to Israel and Elbit Systems. He described the factory as 'one of the most serious drone manufacturing facilities in the world'.