erbia has reaffirmed its close ties with Russia, China, and several other states outside the European Union’s foreign policy line, despite repeated calls from Brussels for alignment.
President Aleksandar Vučić said on Thursday a high-level meeting between Serbian and Russian officials would take place soon, without giving details. The announcement came the same day Vučić disclosed he had spoken by phone with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, whom the EU does not recognize as a legitimate leader due to alleged electoral irregularities. Vučić described Maduro as “a great friend of Serbia.”
The EU has not commented on either announcement.
Moscow ties deepen
Vučić’s move follows his visit to Moscow in May for Victory Day commemorations, his first trip to Russia since its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. During the visit, he met President Vladimir Putin and thanked him for supporting Serbia’s position on Kosovo.
The EU expressed “deep regret” over Vučić’s Moscow visit, reiterating that Serbia must show a “strategic orientation toward the EU.” Serbia remains one of the few European nations not to join Western sanctions on Russia, though it has repeatedly condemned the invasion at the United Nations.
Russia has since sent mixed messages to Belgrade, from criticism over claims that Serbian-made weapons have reached Ukraine to strong backing for Belgrade’s crackdown on anti-government protests, which Serbian and Russian authorities have labeled “color revolutions.”
‘Steel friendship’ with China
Serbia also maintains close relations with China, often described by officials as a “steel friendship.” Vučić has announced a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Sept. 3. Xi last visited Belgrade in May, where he was greeted by thousands waving Serbian and Chinese flags.
Chinese firms are heavily involved in Serbian infrastructure projects, including the reconstruction of the Belgrade-Budapest railway, where part of Novi Sad’s station roof collapsed in July, killing 16 people.
Maduro and Lukashenko ties
Belgrade’s outreach extends to other authoritarian leaders. Earlier this year, Serbian parliamentary speaker Ana Brnabić attended Maduro’s inauguration in Caracas, saying Serbia “is not a country that takes orders from abroad.” The EU criticized the move, while Washington has sanctioned Venezuela for corruption and rights abuses.
Vučić also congratulated Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on securing a seventh term in elections widely condemned as fraudulent.
Arms trade and Iran link
Analysts say Serbia’s global positioning is partly driven by economics, notably arms exports. Official data have not been published since 2022, despite legal requirements. In June, Russia accused Serbia of allowing its ammunition to reach Ukraine via NATO states, a charge Belgrade denies.
Serbia has also faced scrutiny over its stance on Iran. Despite claiming neutrality in the Israel-Iran conflict, trade figures show stronger links with Israel, while Belgrade has not fully aligned with EU sanctions on Tehran.
EU leverage questioned
Political sociologist Eric Gordy says Brussels’ muted response to Serbia’s foreign policy reflects economic interests, particularly the controversial “Jadar” lithium mining project backed by Anglo-Australian firm Rio Tinto. The EU in June listed the project among 13 strategic critical raw material ventures, despite strong domestic opposition.
Serbia aligned with 59% of EU foreign policy statements in 2024, the lowest among Western Balkan candidates, according to ISAC Fund data. For now, Belgrade’s balancing act between East and West continues without major EU repercussions.