“We constantly say that we are trying to separate Serbia from Russia. Vucic is very happy to claim that he also wants that, but he needs more time and space and is playing both sides.” This is what Kurt Volker, former U.S. Ambassador to NATO and Special Representative for Ukraine, said in an interview with Radio Free Europe.
“This is what the U.S. and France say is their policy – we need to separate Serbia from Russia. But then, to do that by strengthening the person who maintains the relationship between Russia and Serbia seems to make little sense. According to Vucic, we see the strengthening of Serbian nationalism, efforts to undermine Montenegro, support for Milorad Dodik, and attempts to undermine Bosnia and Herzegovina,” Volker assesses.
He states that the West is increasingly engaged with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic while slowly losing Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and North Macedonia.
“You know, there’s a saying in the U.S. that we spend more time on our enemies than on our friends. Vučić is not an enemy, but we spend more time dealing with relations with him than promoting democratic values, institutions, and reformers in the rest of the Western Balkans,” Volker says.
He believes that Vučić will continue his policies indefinitely.
“I don’t think Vučić has an endpoint in mind. For someone in his position, it’s like riding a bike; he has to keep going indefinitely, juggling all the balls. And this is the goal in itself, just to stay in power,” he emphasizes.
Regarding the risk of a third world war, Volker believes the situation in Ukraine is key.
“If Putin succeeds in Ukraine and the West withdraws or loses, we are heading towards a global war because it would embolden China, Iran, Venezuela, as well as Putin. Everyone would think they could take the next steps to achieve their ambitions. I don’t think a broader war is inevitable, but I think it’s possible, and our best chance is to stop it quickly,” Volker says.
He thinks Vučić is essentially trying to make Serbia the “Russia of the Balkans.”
“So, a dominant nation among others in the Western Balkans that plays the Serbian minority card in other countries, heavily relying on Russia, its energy resources, and the Russian Orthodox Church.”
According to Volker, under Vucic, Serbian nationalism has emerged, efforts have been made to undermine Montenegro, support has been given to Milorad Dodik, and attempts have been made to undermine Bosnia and Herzegovina and change the government in North Macedonia, which is less pro-European.
“All these are things in which Vučić plays a major role behind the scenes in favor of Serbian nationalism, even as he plays with the West by saying – well, you know, I need to cooperate with Russia, promise that at some point I will impose sanctions on Russia. You know, he plays this game, but at the same time positions himself in Serbia.”
