Turkey – Serbia defense alliance. Turkey is the “greatest power in the Balkans”, said Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic at the joint press conference with Tayyip Erdogan after the signing of 11 agreements between the two countries. Mr. Vucic emphasized Serbia’s expectation of continued Turkish support for peace and stability in the region.

Saying that “certain areas in Serbia are surviving thanks to Turkish investments,” Vucic said “Serbia values ​​its friendly relations with Turkey, calling them important for political and economic ties both in Eurasia and around the world.”

“There are huge possibilities for cooperation in the field of defense cooperation,” he pointed out according to the Anatoli news agency.

He also praised Erdogan as a person who “understands the problems in the Balkans very well and always says that dialogue is the only way to solve them.”

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, for his part, noted the importance of Serbia’s role in stabilizing neighboring Bosnia and Herzegovina during talks with his Serbian counterpart Aleksandar Vucic in Belgrade.

“I emphasized to President Vucic the importance of Serbia’s constructive approach to help Bosnia and Herzegovina overcome its political fragility,” Erdogan said at the press conference.

Turkey and Serbia also have opportunities to strengthen defense industry cooperation and move forward together in the future, Erdogan added. Turkey and Serbia together must take a step to create a joint defense industry that will be the guarantee for maintaining peace, he said. He also urged third countries to refrain from trying to “determine what the defense industries of Turkey and Serbia should contain”.

On Israel’s ongoing attacks in the Middle East, which have killed over 42,000 in the Gaza Strip and injured nearly 98,000 others, Erdogan highlighted how nine countries have recognized the state of Palestine since October 2023 and urged others to do so. same.

Turkey sees Serbia as an important country for stability in the region and supports its EU membership, according to the Turkish Foreign Ministry. Ankara also sees relations with Serbia progressing positively, with high-level mutual visits and trade and economic relations developing with strong momentum.