Two former Yugoslavia states, Croatia and Serbia, pursue a rivalry policy against each other. Serbia is carrying out a program to increase its military strength. At the same time, Croatia, on November 25 has signed a contract for the purchase of 12 second-hand Rafale fighter jets from France.
Russia had previously delivered 30 T-72MS tanks and 30 BRDM-2MS armoured personnel carriers to Serbia. From 2018 to February 2020, Russia also handed over to Serbia four Mi-35M helicopters, six MiG-29 fighter jets, ten BRDM-2 armoured reconnaissance, and patrol vehicles. Then three Mi-17V-5 transport helicopters and a Pantsyr-S1 air defence weapon/missile system as part of its military and technical assistance to the Balkan countries.