Serbia, Spain reaffirm commitment to expanding defense cooperation
Serbia and Spain have agreed to continue strengthening bilateral defense ties following talks between their defense ministers in Belgrade.
Serbian Defense Minister Bratislav Gašić met with Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles Fernández in Belgrade on July 3 to discuss the future development of bilateral defense cooperation and exchange views on the current political and security environment.
According to Serbia's Ministry of Defense, both ministers highlighted the steady expansion of defense relations in recent years, with cooperation in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) remaining the principal area of military engagement between the Serbian Armed Forces and the Spanish Armed Forces.
During the meeting, Gašić thanked his Spanish counterpart for her initiative to personally honor the late Serbian Armed Forces Staff Sergeant Milovan Jovanović, who was killed while serving in the UNIFIL mission in Lebanon. Serbian officials described the gesture as a reflection of the close cooperation between the two armed forces.
The Serbian minister stated that the friendly bilateral relationship provides a solid basis for expanding cooperation across the defense sector, while the Spanish delegation emphasized the professionalism of Serbian personnel participating in international peace support operations.
The talks also addressed broader political and security developments. According to the Serbian government, Robles reiterated Spain's support for Serbia's territorial sovereignty and integrity regarding Kosovo and Metohija.
The meeting underscores continued defense engagement between Belgrade and Madrid at a time when multinational peacekeeping operations and European security cooperation remain important elements of both countries' defense policies.
