Since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, the vast majority of Southeast European states have joined the EU’s sanctions regime, with some sending not only humanitarian aid but also military equipment to Ukraine, while condemning the Russian invasion. Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina are exceptions—particularly the latter due to resistance from its Serb entity, the Republika Srpska.
Belgrade’s situation is unique, as even before the current crisis, its foreign policy aimed to balance between major global powers. Serbia seeks to advance its EU accession process while maintaining strong ties with Russia and expanding its economic and political cooperation with China. Although the war in Ukraine does not pose a direct security threat to Serbia, the current situation presents a serious test for Serbian foreign policy.
Western partners expect Serbia to take a firmer stance in support of Ukraine and to join the sanctions against Russia—moves that would likely have negative economic and domestic political consequences for the government. This analysis attempts to explore the challenges Serbian foreign policy faces as a result of the current crisis, how it is responding, and how this affects the country’s relations with both the West and Russia.
