They do go way back. Tito developed a domestic arms industry to free him from dependence on the Soviets or us. Then they started to export and Africa and the mid-East provided lots of customers, to include Libya and Iraq. Under Milosevic, those relations continued even while both countries were under sanctions & supporting terrorists. At the same time Slobo & the Serb nationalists were trying to sell their Balkans depredations as some kind of war against radical Islamists. And there are many, to include some FReepers, who have bought that B.S.