Defying Russia, Serbia holds military drills with Americans

American or NATO-related military activities in the Balkans regularly trigger anger by the Kremlin, which opposes the Western military alliance's expansion in the former communist eastern Europe.

Members of the U.S. Army 173rd Airborne Brigade and Serbian Army parachutists jump from a US Air Force C-130 transport aircraft during a bilateral Serbian and U.S. airborne exercise at Lisicji jarak airport, some 15 kilometers (10 miles) north of Belgrade 

BELGRADE: American and Serbian paratroopers have held joint exercises in Serbia, watched with unease by Russia, which is trying to increase its influence in the Balkans.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic attended the last day of the 4-day drills on Friday that included joint jumps by Serbian and U.S. parachutists from two U.S. Air Force C-130J Hercules transport planes close to the Serbian capital, Belgrade.

Vucic said that "the joint exercise contributes to the (military) skills, but also enhances partnership and friendship that was not always seen in the past."

American or NATO-related military activities in the Balkans regularly trigger anger by the Kremlin, which opposes the Western military alliance's expansion in the former communist eastern Europe.

Serbia, which tries to politically balance between Russia and the West, claims military neutrality.