Diplomat Zoran Milivojevic: Trump's return represents an investment in the future for Serbs in multiple directions

The first term of President Trump's administration (2016-2020) was marked by a certain understanding and respect for the Serbian people and Serbia. Therefore it is not surprising that a Gallup poll conducted just before the last U.S. elections showed that Serbia was the country that supported Trump.

There are several reasons for Trump's popularity among Serbs.

First, there is the memory of his administration's approach to the region and issues of importance to Serbia when that administration showed constructiveness and some consideration for Serbian interests.

Foto: Envato

Furthermore, the ideological-political platform that acknowledges traditional values and prioritizes them in the country's socio-political structure resonates with Serbs and Serbia. Additionally, Serbs traditionally prioritize national interest and an independent national policy, which also aligns with President Trump's main political approach.

Moreover, Serbs share a similar view of the future of a multipolar world, with a focus on peace, rather than armed conflicts and wars. Finally, the economy, which is a key mechanism for realizing national interests and Trump's policies, is also central to Serbia's and the Serbian people's goals.

All of these factors could be considered key reasons why President Trump had unanimous support from Serbian voters in the U.S. as well as from the Serbian people in Serbia and the diaspora during the election process. The elections clearly confirmed this majority stance of Serbs in the U.S. toward President Trump, while Serbia was quite isolated in Europe in supporting such a stance and electoral outcome.

For Serbs, Trump's return represents, in a certain sense, an investment in the future in multiple ways. First and foremost, it is an opportunity to further improve Serbian-American relations toward reaching a strategic partnership, which is certainly in the interest of both countries and their peoples. The positive experience from President Trump's first term justifies such expectations.

This is particularly true because President Trump is a pragmatic politician whose approach is based on realpolitik and concrete interests, where a certain interest in relations with Serbia is recognized. There is also an opportunity for the entire region.

Specifically, for Serbia, this means an opportunity for sincere dialogue and cooperation, while addressing open issues that burden the state of the region. Trump's focus on peace, stability, and cooperation comes at a time when it is most needed in the region.

Kosovo and Metohija and the intense pressures on the Serbian community living there remain central issues for Serbia, but also for the entire region. The last Trump administration emphasized the primacy of a political solution through the normalization of relations based on economic and political foundations, the rule of law, and respect for UN Security Council Resolution 1244, which is the international legal basis for resolving the issue and sets the main guidelines for addressing the Kosovo issue and the rights of the Serbian people.

Dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina possible with the new administration

The policy of repression, lack of human rights, and civilized world standards, along with constant aggressive pressure from the authorities in Pristina on the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija, represent sources of tension, instability, and a challenge to regional security.

This situation has made dialogue for normalization and seeking a political solution impossible, which has been noted even in the U.S. With a new administration in the White House, this could change, and there may be a return to the negotiating table with the goal of finding constructive political solutions based on compromise and mutual benefit.

Experience from the previous term assures that President Trump was not driven by ideological biases but focused on a pragmatic approach using economic mechanisms to ease the tense political environment, create concrete conditions for peaceful coexistence, and take concrete steps toward a solution.

Indeed, the Washington Agreement from 2020, thanks to President Trump's envoy Richard Grenell, saw Belgrade and Pristina agree that economic cooperation and respect for the rights of the Serbian population in Kosovo and Metohija could be an important source of stability and improved relations. As is well known, the agreement did not take effect because it was not accepted by President Biden's new administration.

Foto: Tanjug/Strahinja Aćimović

The one-sided, repressive, and nationalist policy of Albanian leader and Prime Minister Albin Kurti in Pristina further hindered the implementation of some of the agreement's objectives to the detriment of the overall situation in Kosovo and Metohija and the possibility of positive treatment of provisions aimed at peace, stability, and normal coexistence.

The new Trump administration could, based on previous experiences, offer a new framework for substantive dialogue.

Stability factor - Serbia's relations with its neighbors

Serbia's relations with its neighbors, as well as the rights of Serbs living in neighboring countries and entities, are not only local issues but factors that directly affect the stability of the entire region. A prime example is Bosnia and Herzegovina, where the Serbian entity is key to the country's stability.

The Dayton Agreement defined Bosnia and Herzegovina as a country with two entities and three constituent peoples, a model that still maintains and guarantees peace and the functioning of the state to this day. Any attempts to deviate from the Dayton Agreement, which have unfortunately become more frequent recently, are sources of instability and risks for broader regional security.

The Serbian people and their entity, the Republika Srpska, fully respect the basic agreement from Dayton, the rights of constituent peoples and entities, in accordance with the guaranteed rights of the entities established by that agreement. In this sense, Serbia, as one of the guarantors of the Dayton Agreement, advocates for its original and full respect for regional peace and stability.

The Dayton Agreement is not just a historical document that ended the conflict but also the foundation of peace and stability, both in Bosnia and Herzegovina and in the region as a whole.

Project 'Open Balkan'

In recent years, through open dialogue and a willingness to compromise, Serbia has sought to build bridges of trust with its neighbors.

An example of this is the "Open Balkans" project in cooperation with North Macedonia and Albania, which has yielded indisputable concrete results in the domain of economic cooperation, the free movement of goods, people, services, and capital, recognizing that regional cooperation through concrete joint projects is key to economic and political stability.

This is especially illustrated by the strengthening of relations and cooperation between Serbia and Albania, despite historical challenges and political disagreements. In this context, it is worth noting that the Trump administration frequently emphasized the importance of regional cooperation for economic growth and supported the "Open Balkans" initiative, which deserves further encouragement.

U.S. support for this initiative could accelerate its development and further implementation, as it would further ease political relations and concretely contribute to further economic cooperation.

When it comes to regional cooperation, a special place is held by the historic rise in relations between Serbia and Hungary under Viktor Orban. This is a model of relations based on the highest possible degree of trust, surpassing usual formulas and practices for neighboring relations of independent entities with different strategic and political positions and interests.

Economy key to stability

Serbia shares President Trump's stance that the economy holds a key place in projecting stability, development, and national interest.

Serbia has doubled its GDP in the last decade and shown significant economic potential, which has attracted major foreign investments and capital flows. The return of the Trump administration brings hope that the U.S. will encourage companies to invest in Serbia and its reindustrialization, bring new technologies, and create jobs for young people.

The IT sector, in which Serbia has already made significant progress, represents particularly valuable potential for deeper cooperation between Serbia and the U.S.

Serbia and the United States share a rich history that spans over a century. The large Serbian-American community is an important bridge between the two countries. This long-standing relationship is based on shared values, friendship, and political dialogue dating back to World War I. Together with a pragmatic foreign policy and an emphasis on economic relations, all of

this forms the foundation, I am confident, on which the two countries can build future relations in their mutual interest. This can certainly be given a decisive boost by Trump's return to the White House, with a change that already offers a rare opportunity for the establishment of long-term strategic bilateral relations in mutual interest.

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