Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić’s remarks about potentially changing the course of the Ibar River are primarily aimed at domestic political consumption and reflect declining support among nationalist voters, according to Rada Trajković, president of the European Movement of Serbs in Kosovo.
Speaking to Danas, Trajković argued that Vučić knows the legal and political risks involved in such a move and is unlikely to enter into direct conflict with international law over access to water.
“The right to water is a human right recognized by the United Nations, and he knows that he cannot enter into such a conflict with international law. We must also not forget that Gazivode supplies water to the Serbian community as well,” Trajković said.
She described Vučić’s latest statement as part of a broader strategy to regain support among Serbia’s patriotic and nationalist electorate ahead of potential elections.
“We know that President Vučić, through his often contradictory positions, likes to cover the full spectrum of ideologies and target voters across the political spectrum,” Trajković said.
According to her, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s visit to Serbia provided Vučić with a modest boost among pro-European voters, while Belgrade’s limited response to developments in northern Kosovo, particularly the demolition of Serbian homes and other buildings around Gazivode, weakened his support among nationally oriented voters.
Trajković also pointed to what she described as a series of political strategies surrounding Gazivode, ranging from proposals to rename the lake “Trump Lake of Peace” to slogans such as “we will not give up Gazivode” and, most recently, threats to “empty Gazivode.”
Vučić announced that Serbia was considering the possibility of altering the course of the Ibar River in response to what he described as the treatment of Serbs by Kosovo authorities.
“We have already called in experts who deal with this, people from the construction sector, engineers and others. Since they are harassing our people so much, we will look at the different reasons for changing the course of the Ibar and see what the Albanians will do and how they will behave,” Vučić told reporters while inspecting construction work on Belgrade’s Old Railway Bridge.
The Ibar was dammed in Kosovo to create the Gazivode reservoir, a strategically important water and energy resource. In recent days, Kosovo authorities have demolished Serbian-owned houses, holiday homes and hospitality businesses in the area, according to Serbian media reports.
The Gazivode hydropower plant supplies electricity to a significant part of Kosovo, while the Ibar-Lepenac water system provides water to the local population and supports key economic and agricultural activities.
Trajković’s comments add to growing criticism of Vučić’s rhetoric over Gazivode, with opponents arguing that threats involving the Ibar and the reservoir are being used primarily as political messaging rather than as a realistic policy proposal.
