American professor and Balkan expert Daniel Serwer believes that Serbia has drifted away from a Western-oriented path in recent years and has moved increasingly closer to China and Russia.
Commenting on political developments in Serbia, Serwer said that Belgrade has not merely pursued a policy of neutrality but has actively strengthened its relations with Beijing and Moscow.
“Serbia has not only pursued political neutrality but has moved increasingly closer to China and Russia. Personally, if I were Serbian, I would not be happy with that direction,” he said.
Speaking about Serbia’s domestic political situation, Serwer stated that the ongoing protests in the country demonstrate significant dissatisfaction with the political system established by President Aleksandar Vučić.
According to him, the system created by Vučić is more autocratic than previous governments in Serbia’s recent history and has not delivered the economic results or progress toward European integration that the authorities claim.
However, he emphasized that Serbia’s political landscape remains divided. Some citizens believe Vučić has not been tough enough toward Kosovo, while others favor even closer relations with Russia and China.
Regarding Vučić’s political future, Serwer said he could not speculate on whether the Serbian president would resign, describing it as a personal decision that cannot be predicted.
He added that the outcome of Serbia’s future elections remains uncertain because the opposition still needs to organize itself, develop a clear political platform, and convince citizens that it is ready to govern.
Serwer described Vučić as a highly skilled politician, saying that he will continue to argue that he has delivered results for Serbia and that he has not recognized Kosovo’s independence.
“When Vučić first came to power, I thought he might steer Serbia toward the West. Unfortunately, he chose a different path, one that I personally cannot support,” Serwer concluded.
