Croatian political analyst Davor Đenero explains why Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić fled Florida, citing failed diplomacy and a shift in U.S. foreign policy under Donald Trump.
A major diplomatic blunder is unfolding behind the scenes of Serbian politics. According to Croatian political analyst Davor Đenero, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić’s sudden departure from Florida was not due to illness, as officially claimed, but rather the result of a failed diplomatic mission and a growing rift with the U.S. administration under President Donald Trump.
🔹 “Vučić didn’t leave Florida because he was ill. He fled because it became clear there would be no meeting with Trump, and his diplomatic venture had failed,” writes Đenero for Al Jazeera Balkans.
A Stage Exit Without Applause
Đenero points out that Vučić’s team misjudged the changing dynamics of the Trump administration, which has pivoted from its earlier, more ambiguous stance toward Russia to a firmer pro-Western and pro-Ukraine position. In this new geopolitical climate, there is no place for Vučić’s alignment with Moscow or his attempts to showcase international influence through photo-ops with high-ranking U.S. officials.
🔹 “Trump realized Putin tried to deceive him and mock his peace efforts. This changed everything,” Đenero argues.
The Real Reason Vučić Fled Miami
While Serbian media framed Vučić’s exit from the U.S. as health-related, Đenero asserts the true reason was a failed meeting with U.S. Treasury Secretary and intensifying pressure over Russia-affiliated energy companies in Serbia, including Naftna Industrija Srbije (NIS)—a subsidiary of Gazprom.
🔹 “Vučić and his ‘personal banker’ Siniša Mali left Miami secretly, just before their scheduled meeting with Scott Bessent,” Đenero reports.
The End of Illusions
According to the analyst, Putin’s imperialist agenda and China’s silent support have made Serbia’s balancing act untenable. Trump’s administration has renewed military and economic support for Ukraine, further isolating pro-Russian actors like Vučić. Even Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán, a known ally of Moscow, has begun adjusting to this new reality.
🔹 “EU and U.S. policy has clearly shifted. The era of appeasing Putin is over,” Đenero says.
A New Generation Rising
Despite the lack of a strong opposition, Đenero highlights the emergence of a new generation of Serbian students who are rejecting authoritarianism and seeking integration with the European Union.
🔹 “This youth does not want to be dragged behind a new Iron Curtain. They are heading toward Brussels—through Croatia and Slovenia—not Moscow,” he writes.
