Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Thursday that national elections would be held before the constitutional and legal deadline, pledging to serve only Serbia’s interests and not those “who hate it.”
Vucic announced that Japan had officially confirmed its participation in Expo 2027 in Belgrade, adding that Serbia now had the highest number of participating countries for a specialised Expo. “We have managed to surpass Astana in Kazakhstan, our brotherly and friendly country,” he told reporters after meeting young Serbian athletes from 18 countries attending the “Serbia Calls You 2025” camp.
Earlier in the day, Vucic spoke with Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema and said Serbia valued Zambia’s participation in the Expo.
On U.S. relations and tariffs
Asked whether Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Djuric’s recent talks in Washington with U.S. Secretary of State Rubio marked a new era in relations, Vucic said Serbia would work to make ties with the United States “as good as possible.”
“We have had several conversations with U.S. officials. For us, it is important to have very good relations with the United States. We will work to develop and improve them, even though that is not always easy – we are a small country, they are a superpower, and our interests are not aligned on at least one issue,” he said.
Vucic added that discussions on tariffs were ongoing. “I believe the issue will come onto the agenda in Washington, and that we will manage to resolve it in the coming period,” he said, noting that the small volume of bilateral trade had made Serbia a lower priority in the past.
On Republika Srpska
Vucic said Serbia did not interfere in the tactical or political actions of the leadership of Bosnia’s Serb entity, Republika Srpska (RS).
“Our role is to point to rights, to violations of rights, and to respect or disregard for the Dayton Agreement. In that sense, Republika Srpska can always count on Serbia’s support,” he said when asked about RS President Milorad Dodik’s announcement of a referendum after his mandate was revoked.
He said Serbia’s position would remain unchanged, adding that Belgrade understood the complexity of the situation but hoped all issues would be resolved peacefully to preserve regional stability.
“I wish some in the international community better understood the need for dialogue rather than making abrupt decisions. From those in Sarajevo, I expected nothing better. That will be Serbia’s goal in the period ahead,” Vucic said.