US General: Who is Serbia defending itself against?

(Patria) - Former Commander of the US Army in Europe, General Frederick Ben Hodges, questioned, regarding the delivery of the first part of the Russian Pancir air defense system to Serbia, who Serbia considers it needs to defend itself against, reported Voice of America.

"I wonder what these systems are for? Who does Serbia consider it needs to defend itself against? The West is tireless in finding ways to approach Serbia. And it poses no threat to Serbia," Hodges told Voice of America.

According to him, Serbia could invest precious resources, build infrastructure, and create jobs in a much better way, which would build young Serbian citizens' faith in a better future. "Instead of buying expensive weapons systems against non-existent threats from the air," he assessed. 

The sum Serbia paid Russia for the "Pancir S" missile system is unknown to the public. On the world military equipment market, one missile system of this type costs between 13 and 14.6 million dollars, depending on the version, Voice of America added. 

Hodges said that countries have the right to choose suppliers of military equipment and weapons. 

"Every country has the right to procure weapons according to its own will. I would like to see other Western countries also join the competition in providing what Serbia needs. Serbia has other friends and could achieve much more than complete dependence on Russia," Hodges emphasized.

Serbian Minister of Defense Aleksandar Vulin confirmed that the first part of the "Pancir S1" air defense system was delivered from Russia to the Batajnica airport "Colonel-Pilot Milenko Pavlović". 

Serbia and Russia concluded the agreement on the procurement of the "Pancir" system battery in 2019.

The "Pancir S1" artillery-missile system for anti-aircraft operations is intended for the air defense of facilities from reconnaissance and actions from the airspace, as well as for the protection of air defense units and other military equipment.