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Serbia's incoming government, led by the election-winning Student List, has pledged to end arms exports to Israel and halt a joint drone manufacturing project, putting military cooperation between the two countries under scrutiny.
Filip Ubovic, a prominent representative of the Student List movement, has outlined plans to overhaul Serbia's military relationship with Israel, including stopping arms deliveries and halting a joint drone manufacturing project.
Speaking to British journalist Aaron Bastani on Novara Media's podcast, Ubovic argued that the movement's foreign policy program explicitly commits to ending arms trade with Israel.
"What is happening there is a stain on humanity, and it is truly sad. Our program says we will stop arms trade with Israel," he said, referring to the situation in Gaza.
Ubovic also criticized former Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic's close ties with Israel, describing the establishment of an Israeli-linked drone factory in Serbia as unacceptable and calling for the project to be stopped.
The proposed restrictions could affect a military trade relationship that has expanded considerably in recent years.
Arms and military equipment exports from Serbia to Israel reached €114 million ($125.75 million) between 2023 and 2025, according to figures cited by Serbian business news outlet eKapija. Serbia has also made multimillion-euro purchases of Israeli military systems.
The two countries' defense cooperation has also extended into domestic manufacturing.
In September, Vucic inaugurated a drone assembly facility in Belgrade developed through cooperation between Israeli defense company Elbit Systems and Serbian company SDS Technologies.
The factory was expected to employ around 100 workers and assemble Israeli-designed drones for the Serbian Armed Forces as well as foreign militaries. Vucic also announced plans to establish at least three additional production facilities across Serbia with Israeli partners.
The Serbian president described the project as part of efforts to build a so-called digital army and accelerate military decision-making. Authorities, however, restricted media access to the facility, citing the confidential nature of its production operations.
Vucic has also pushed back against the movement's position, questioning its approach to Serbia's defense partnerships.
"We have learned from another one of them that they will not cooperate with Israel, that they will not cooperate with China, that they will not cooperate with those who have the most powerful armies and the most powerful weapons and equipment in the world," he remarked.
"To whom are we handing over the country? And from whom, and how, will we be able to protect and defend ourselves?" he added.
The Student List's foreign policy program also condemns Israeli military operations in Gaza and pledges to expand humanitarian assistance to Palestinians.
However, the new Serbian government has yet to be formally established. No official decision has been announced to suspend arms exports to Israel or terminate the drone manufacturing project.
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