Photos released on Tuesday show China and Serbia—Beijing's new "friend" in Europe—conducting joint military exercises between their special forces in the East Asian country.

The event, code-named Peace Guardian 2025, took place in Hebei Province, near China's capital city, in the second half of July, the Chinese military previously announced.

Newsweek reached out to the Chinese Defense Ministry for comment via email.

Why It Matters

China, a quasi-ally of Russia, has maintained close ties with Serbia, with the Balkan nation's leader, President Aleksandar Vučić, describing Beijing as his country's "most precious friend" during a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Moscow in May.

While Serbia adopts a policy of military neutrality, refraining from joining collective defense organizations, it focuses on developing cooperation with individual partners, having acquired Chinese weapons, including drones and surface-to-air missile systems.

The deepening ties between China and Serbia have raised concerns in the European Union about Belgrade's path toward European integration. Serbia has been a candidate country for EU membership since 2012 and is obliged to align its foreign policy with that of the EU.

What To Know

According to the Serbian Defense Ministry, the country's 72nd Special Operations Brigade conducted joint training with a Chinese military special operations unit from July 19 to 28.

Officially released photos show participating soldiers engaged in a range of activities during Peace Guardian 2025, including shooting drills, indoor and outdoor maneuvers, and the use of unmanned ground and aerial vehicles at an undisclosed location in Hebei Province.

Why It Matters, What To Know, What People Are Saying, What Happens Next

In this photo provided by the Serbian Defense Ministry on July 29, 2025, Serbian and Chinese special forces conduct joint military exercises in China's Hebei Province. Serbian Defense Ministry

"During the ten-day training, mixed combat teams carried out tactical tasks in urban and rural areas with support from unmanned platforms," the Serbian Defense Ministry said, adding that the event focused on the use of drones in the execution of special forces tasks.

The joint training served as an opportunity to exchange experiences, compare knowledge, and improve skills in tactics, techniques, and procedures, according to Belgrade, which said the Chinese side "showed an exceptional level of organization and professionalism."

The Serbian Foreign Ministry said the joint military activity boosted military cooperation and enhanced coordination in conducting missions alongside foreign militaries and in international environments, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported on Wednesday.

Vuk Vuksanovic, a researcher at the Belgrade Centre for Security Policy, told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty that Serbia's cooperation with China aligns with Belgrade's foreign policy, which aims to maximize its independence by partnering with various global actors.

What People Are Saying

The Serbian Defense Ministry, in a press release on Tuesday: "The training in China was the first joint training of the armies of the two countries. Its successful implementation has given an impetus to the strengthening of military-military cooperation and improved mutual understanding and the ability of combat teams to carry out tasks with foreign armed forces and in the international environment."

Senior Colonel Jiang Bin, spokesperson for China's Defense Ministry, announced on July 14: "[Peace Guardian 2025] will be the first joint training between Chinese and Serbian militaries. It will help strengthen combat capabilities of participating troops and deepen cooperation between the two militaries."

What Happens Next

It remains to be seen whether China will conduct joint military activities with Serbia regularly in the future. China previously deployed troops to Belarus for combat training.

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