Serbia and the USA: Secret Strategic Alliance or Just Diplomatic Theater?
What’s going on at the top? Marko Đurić, Serbia’s top diplomat, keeps telling us that Serbia and the USA are now “firmly committed to strengthening relations at a strategic level.” But is that really true, or just another diplomatic fairy tale? Đurić met with US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau on the sidelines of the 55th General Assembly of the Organization of American States in Antigua and Barbuda. According to him, this was the second meeting with high-ranking US officials in the past month, supposedly proving the importance of improving ties between the two countries.
Strategy or just empty words? Đurić emphasized talks about launching a strategic dialogue between Serbia and the USA, as well as regional issues, including the status of the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija. He also highlighted the importance of the personal relationship between Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and then-US President Donald Trump, which, according to him, was confirmed immediately after Trump’s election. Serbia even expressed a desire to host the US president in Belgrade, promising “traditional hospitality” that, according to Đurić, would be warmer than in many other capitals.
Economy and sanctions – who’s playing who? Particularly interesting is the US administration’s decision to delay sanctions on Serbia’s oil industry. Đurić called this “an additional confirmation of quality and continuous communication” between the two countries. While acknowledging the need for a broader solution to relations between great powers like the USA and Russia, he stressed that it is crucial that Serbian citizens do not suffer negative consequences. So, while the big powers play geopolitical games, Serbia tries to come out unscathed.
Serbia as a key partner in the Western Hemisphere? At the summit in Antigua and Barbuda, the Serbian delegation, according to Đurić, “cemented Serbia’s position as one of the key European partners of countries in the Western Hemisphere.” Serbia, he said, is “the good news of this year’s summit” because it shows its commitment to the equal status of small island countries in the Caribbean and countries in Central and South America. He also pointed out that Serbia’s software industry today is twice the size of its agriculture, and its biggest partners are precisely in this part of the world.
Nervous Pristina and regional challenges Đurić admitted that Serbia’s presence at the summit caused nervousness in Pristina, which is not surprising given the Kosovo and Metohija issue. He also pointed out the importance of Serbia’s positioning in the UN and on regional issues, including historical topics and the sacrifices the country made in the First and Second World Wars.
Belgrade as the host of the Expo exhibition and bilateral meetings One of the topics of discussion was the specialized Expo exhibition to be held in Belgrade. Đurić expressed satisfaction with numerous bilateral meetings – as many as 15 in three days – covering economy, politics, security, and global issues. He especially highlighted the signing of a visa waiver agreement with Saint Lucia, another sign of strengthening ties with countries in the Western Hemisphere.
What does all this tell us? Is Serbia really on the verge of a strategic alliance with the USA, or is this just diplomatic theater for domestic and international audiences? Will relations truly deepen in economy, politics, and security, or will they remain at the level of nice words and promises? And how will all this affect Serbia’s position in the region, especially regarding Kosovo and Metohija?
Conclusion While Đurić and Serbian diplomacy trumpet “strategic level” and “firm commitment,” the question remains how real this is and how long it will last. In a world where alliances are quickly made and quickly broken, Serbia must be careful not to become just a pawn in a big geopolitical game. But hey, if you have your own take on this, or think it’s just another diplomatic soap opera, feel free to drop a comment below. Let the people’s voice be heard!
Slug: serbia-usa-secret-strategic-alliance-or-diplomatic-theater
Political compass for main article:
- ID: 142971
- URL: https://www.kurir.rs/vesti/politika/9709618/djuric-srbija-i-sad-cvrsto-opredeljene-za-jacanje-odnosa-na-strateskom-nivou
- x: 6
- y: 4
Unrelated articles: [137721, 142813]
