Rutte: Serbia has a sovereign right to hold military drills with China, but I would zone out from what Vucic is doing

Speaking for Radio Free Europe (RFE), Rutte said that NATO is “quite worried about what is happening with China,” which, he said, is working together with the Russians, the North Koreans and with Iran.

“I mean, for Serbia, they can decide to do this, but let’s not be naïve about China. We know that China is working together with the Russians, with North Koreans, with Iran… Therefore, what is happening in the Indo-Pacific and in the Euro-Atlantic area is getting more and more connected and intertwined,” Rutte replied when asked whether NATO is concerned that Serbia is participating in drills with the Chinese military.

Rutte said that NATO maintains a dialogue on cooperation with Serbia and that he has direct contacts with President Vucic.

"It is a sovereign right of Serbia to take that decision. But in the end I would really zone out from what President Vucic is doing with China, which is, of course, relevant, but there is a more pressing issue, and this is China itself,” the NATO chief said.

He added that he has always said that NATO is not only there to make sure the members of the alliance are safe against the Russians, but against anyone.

“We have to be safe against anyone who wishes us ill. And when we look at an enormous buildup of the Chinese forces, let’s really be conscious of what is happening there,” said Rutte, who in the interview mostly spoke about efforts to end the Russian-Ukrainian war.

Serbia, which maintains military neutrality, held its first joint military exercise with China in July, despite warnings from the European Union (EU). The ten-day exercise involving the two country’s special forces took place in China’s Hebei province.

Under Vucic’s leadership, Serbia is strengthening ties with China even though EU membership remains its official strategic goal. In 2020, Serbia purchased six new CH-92A drones from China. Two years later, it acquired the FK-3 anti-aircraft missile system. More recently it has also bought CH-95 drones, although the exact number has not been officially disclosed, RFE reported.

Warnings about defense cooperation with China have also come from Washington.