A former Serbian ambassador to the United States has urged Belgrade to take seriously a proposed bipartisan bill in the U.S. Congress that could link future cooperation with Washington to Serbia’s democratic record and its relations with Russia, China and Iran.
Ivan Vujačić, Serbia’s former ambassador in Washington, told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty that any initiative originating in the U.S. Congress deserves serious attention, even if the proposed legislation is still far from becoming law.
“Every initiative that comes from the U.S. Congress should be taken seriously,” Vujačić said.
The proposal, introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Republican Congressman Joe Wilson and Democratic Congressman Bill Keating, calls for measures addressing democratic backsliding in Serbia and its ties with Russia, China and Iran.
Vujačić said the significance of the initiative lies partly in its bipartisan nature.
“It is significant that this is being discussed in a concrete form and that the initiative comes from both sides, Republicans and Democrats,” he said.
Strategic Dialogue could face conditions
The proposed legislation, referred to as the SRBIJA Act, could affect the recently launched U.S.-Serbia Strategic Dialogue.
According to the proposal, the Strategic Dialogue could be suspended unless discussions address Serbia’s relations with Russia, China and Iran, as well as concerns surrounding democracy and the rule of law.
Before meetings under the Strategic Dialogue, the U.S. secretary of state would be required to certify to congressional foreign affairs committees that the discussions would address issues including free and fair elections, corruption, rule-of-law reforms, democratic governance, press freedom and freedom of assembly.
The initiative also calls for potential financial and visa sanctions against actors considered responsible for destabilizing the Western Balkans.
Possible sanctions could target individuals accused of threatening peace, security, stability or territorial integrity in the region, undermining democratic institutions, engaging in corruption or serious human rights violations, or obstructing regional agreements related to security, peace and cooperation.
Vujačić: Unlikely to become law before November elections
Despite the political significance of the proposal, Vujačić said the legislative process in Congress is lengthy and complicated.
He said he did not expect the bill to be adopted before the U.S. midterm elections scheduled for November.
“It is far from becoming law. The question is when it will even reach the agenda,” Vujačić said.
The November elections will determine the balance of power in Congress, with all seats in the House of Representatives and roughly one-third of the Senate up for election.
Vujačić also questioned the immediate practical importance of the Strategic Dialogue itself, describing it as still being more of an announced framework than a fully developed mechanism.
“I still do not see what the scope of that Strategic Dialogue will be,” he said, adding that energy appeared to be one of the main areas in which Serbia could potentially see concrete benefits.
Washington’s concerns over Russia and China
The proposal comes after the United States and Serbia launched their Strategic Dialogue in mid-July as part of efforts to deepen bilateral cooperation.
As part of the dialogue, the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding on energy infrastructure and regional energy security.
Washington has increasingly identified reducing Russian and Chinese influence as a strategic priority in the Western Balkans, particularly through efforts to diversify energy supplies and reduce the region’s dependence on Russian energy.
The proposed SRBIJA Act reflects growing scrutiny in parts of the U.S. Congress over Serbia’s foreign-policy direction under President Aleksandar Vučić, including Belgrade’s continued political and economic ties with Moscow and Beijing.
Wilson has sharply criticized the Serbian government, accusing Vučić’s administration of moving away from the rule of law while strengthening relations with authoritarian governments.
Serbian authorities did not immediately respond to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s requests for comment on the proposed legislation.
While the proposal remains at an early stage in Congress, Vujačić’s assessment suggests that its importance lies less in any immediate legal consequences and more in the political message it sends about growing bipartisan concern in Washington over Serbia’s democratic trajectory and geopolitical positioning.
