Serbia’s foreign policy is at a crossroads as President Aleksandar Vucic’s trip to Moscow hangs in the balance following a health scare and controversy over his US visit.
The abrupt end to Aleksandar Vucic‘s US visit and uncertainty about his planned trip to Moscow have sent shockwaves through Belgrade, revealing a crisis in Serbia’s foreign policy. Is Vucic‘s position weaker than he would have the world believe?
Serbia's foreign policy is shaped by its complex history and geography.
The country has historically been a part of various empires, including the Ottoman Empire and Austria-Hungary.
After World War II, Yugoslavia was formed under Josip Broz Tito, but it dissolved in 1991.
Serbia then became an independent state with a unique foreign policy approach.
Today, Serbia maintains good relations with Russia and China while also seeking to strengthen ties with the European Union.
The country has been a candidate for EU membership since 2009.
The Visit that Wasn’t: A Bypassing of Diplomatic Protocol
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic fell ill during his visit to the United States and cut short his trip, prompting speculation about the real purpose of the visit. Finance Minister Sinisa Mali claimed the purpose was to address economic issues, but Ivan Vujacic, Serbia’s long-time ambassador to the US, said standard diplomatic protocol appeared to have been bypassed completely.
Aleksandar Vučić is a Serbian politician who has been serving as the President of Serbia since 2017.
Prior to his presidency, he held various positions within the government, including Prime Minister from 2014 to 2016 and Deputy Prime Minister from 2008 to 2012.
Born on March 5, 1970, in Belgrade, Serbia, Vučić rose to prominence as a key figure in the Serbian Progressive Party.
He played a crucial role in brokering the Brussels Agreement with Kosovo in 2013, which aimed to normalize relations between the two countries.
‘It’s not common practice for heads of state to attend party meetings,’ explained Vujacic. ‘Foreign representatives typically attend party conventions only upon an official invitation issued through the State Department.’ Some sources now claim that Vucic was even denied entry to the event at Donald Trump‘s Mar-a-Lago estate, despite having paid for access.
Is US Support for Serbia Waning?
Vuk Vuksanovic of the Belgrade Centre for Security Policy believes Vucic‘s visit was a failed improvisation, revealing his politically weakened and wounded state. ‘He seems to be desperately seeking out international leaders and events that might allow him to project the image of a globally recognized statesman,’ said Vuksanovic.
Dodging a Moscow Visit: A Calculated Risk?
Former ambassador Vujacic believes Vucic‘s plan was to meet Trump first, then travel to Moscow for the May 9 Victory Day Parade. However, after the collapse of the US part of his plan, some interpret Vucic‘s health scare as a convenient excuse to avoid traveling to Moscow.
EU Opposition to a Vucic Visit to Moscow
The EU’s response to the mere suggestion that Vucic might visit Moscow was exceptionally sharp. EU officials warned that participating in Russia’s military parade could seriously jeopardize Serbia’s EU membership aspirations.
A Leader Under Pressure: The Reality of Serbian Foreign Policy
President Vucic insists he will not change course under EU pressure, but his room to maneuver is becoming increasingly limited. Amid rising tension at the global level, his foreign policy strategy is driven more by political marketing than genuine foreign policy logic.
Vucic‘s original philosophy was that Washington and Moscow were more important than Brussels, but now he’s trying not to lose the support of any major international actor. The purpose of Serbia’s foreign policy is no longer driven by a coherent foreign policy logic, but rather to repair Vucic‘s ‘political marketing’ image as a leader.
A Global Leader in Crisis
Vucic‘s position appears weaker than initially thought, and his foreign policy strategy is increasingly under pressure. As the situation continues to unfold, one thing becomes clear: Serbia’s foreign policy is at a crossroads, with the future of its international relations hanging precariously in the balance.
