Despite the arrest and removal of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro in a U.S.-led operation, Serbia has continued to portray him as a close ally, exposing deep contradictions in Belgrade’s foreign policy rhetoric and geopolitical alignment.
Until recently, Serbian officials openly referred to Maduro as a “great friend” of Serbia. Following his arrest on January 3, Serbian authorities criticized the U.S. operation as an example of the “rule of force” and “might over right”, language that sharply contrasts with Serbia’s official stance during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
According to Jelica Minić of the European Movement in Serbia, Belgrade’s reaction reflects not only selective interpretation of international law but also fear that similar arguments could one day be applied to Serbia itself.
Friendship Rooted in Kosovo Politics
Serbia’s close relationship with Venezuela has been driven largely by Caracas’ refusal to recognize Kosovo’s independence. Over the years, Serbian leaders repeatedly described Venezuela as a “true friend”, and in 2023 the two countries signed a visa-free agreement, strengthening bilateral ties despite Venezuela being under EU and U.S. sanctions.
In January 2025, Serbian Parliament Speaker Ana Brnabić attended Maduro’s inauguration in Caracas, praising Venezuela’s role in supporting Serbia’s campaign against Kosovo’s international recognition. President Aleksandar Vučić reiterated this position as recently as August 2025, again calling Maduro a “great friend of Serbia.”
Contradictions with EU Alignment
While Serbia is an official EU candidate country, it has maintained relations with Maduro’s authoritarian regime even as Brussels imposed and extended sanctions due to democratic backsliding, human rights violations, and repression following Venezuela’s July 2024 presidential elections.
Although Serbia partially aligned with some EU sanctions, it never questioned Maduro’s legitimacy, even while officially supporting EU statements that disputed the credibility of the electoral process.
Growing Pressure from Washington
The U.S. operation against Maduro was condemned by Russia, Iran, and their allies, while many Western partners warned about the risks of undermining international law. However, most countries in the Western Balkans supported the U.S. action, labeling Maduro’s government a narco-criminal dictatorship.
According to analysts, Vučić’s harsh rhetoric reflects growing anxiety about Serbia’s position in U.S. strategic planning. The U.S. National Security Strategy of December 2025 explicitly raises concerns about democratic decline in Serbia, calls for reduced energy dependence on Russia, and reiterates that Serbia and Kosovo must move toward a comprehensive agreement based on mutual recognition.
Vučić has recently acknowledged that, instead of expected benefits from improved relations with the Trump administration, Serbia has faced decisions that run against its national interests, signaling a potential recalibration of Belgrade’s foreign policy calculations.
