Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić stated on Monday that the United States has made two official requests to initiate the Strategic Dialogue with Serbia: one related to energy, and the other of a more political nature.
“One request is linked to energy, the other has a more political character,” Vučić said on January 26 during an interview with Blic TV, based in Belgrade. He did not provide further details about the demands.
Vučić first mentioned the requests five days ago, following a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. According to him, since that meeting neither Belgrade nor Washington have provided additional statements regarding the matter.
Requests for clarification sent by Radio Free Europe to the Serbian Presidency, Government, and the U.S. State Department went unanswered.
The Strategic Dialogue, which the United States conducts with several countries worldwide, aims to deepen bilateral cooperation across multiple fields, including economy, security, and foreign policy. Washington also considers the dialogue a key tool to counter Chinese and Russian influence in the Western Balkans.
Vučić noted that the requests were not discussed at the extraordinary Serbian Government meeting on January 25, and said discussions on them will continue in the coming days.
Reducing the Balkans’ energy dependence on Russia has been among the objectives mentioned in the U.S. National Defense Authorization Act, passed in December 2025. The law also stresses the need to limit Chinese influence.
The United States places strong emphasis on progress in the EU-mediated dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, supporting steps toward a comprehensive agreement based on mutual recognition.
The Strategic Dialogue between the U.S. and Serbia was initially discussed in August 2025, but it has not yet officially started. A similar Strategic Dialogue had been planned between Kosovo and the United States, but U.S. authorities suspended it in September 2025 due to concerns over the acting government’s decisions. Both dialogues are intended to strengthen economic and diplomatic ties.
Vučić: Russian Shares in NIS Valued at €1 Billion
Vučić also addressed Russian shares in the Serbian Oil Industry (NIS), which are expected to be purchased by the Hungarian company MOL, estimating their value at €900 million – €1 billion. He added that Serbia was prepared to pay double that amount.
“We had the funds ready — to pay two billion euros. To pay even more than that,” Vučić told Blic.
NIS has been under U.S. sanctions since early 2025, due to a significant portion of its shares being Russian-owned. Serbian authorities aim to change this situation after the agreement for MOL’s purchase of Russian shares is finalized.
Vučić indicated that he personally understands why the Russian shares in NIS were not offered to Serbia, but he prefers not to discuss the reasons publicly, citing national interests.
Asked about Serbia’s current relations with Russia, Vučić said they remain “good”, noting that Serbia continues close cooperation with Russia, despite Western calls for sanctions on Moscow over the war in Ukraine.
