The Diplomacy of the Republic of Serbia in the last twenty and more years has, as it does today, faced a task that is by no means easy. The strategic discourse in strengthening bilateral relations and engaging in the multilateral order has represented one of the main identity-defining decisions, not only for Serbia but also for many other countries after the Cold War. It continues to shape the country’s foreign, but often also its domestic, policy. As a country positioned between, as it is often said, the East and the West—both geographically and culturally—every diplomatic effort and approach is closely scrutinized by the broader public.
Within this diplomatic spectrum, the relations between the United States and the Republic of Serbia stand out. Over the past 140 years and more of established bilateral relations, these ties initially showed significant success. However, in the second half of the 20th century, they began to deteriorate, further worsened during the 1990s, and nearly collapsed in 2008. A new chapter has since begun, aimed at improving Serbian-American relations, which have been intensively strengthened in the last 15 years, with the goal of ensuring that the future of these relations rests on stable foundations, which, in themselves, are certainly fragile.
On February 18, 2020, former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich was released from federal prison after serving 8 of the 14 years he was sentenced to, following a pardon from then-President Donald Trump, who emphasized that the sentence was "incredibly strong and senseless" in February of that year.
Rod Blagojevich's father, Radisav Blagojevich, born in the village of Veliki Krčmari near Kragujevac, decided, after World War II, during which he spent four years as a prisoner of war and then another three years in a refugee camp, to build his future in the promised land that rewards hard work and shares the same values as he does. Little did he know that his son would one day become, at the time of writing this text, the closest politician of Serbian descent to the President of the United States and that, in the years ahead, he may play a significant role in a crucial moment for redefining the relations between the Republic of Serbia and the United States.
An interesting fact, which is certainly a source of pride and satisfaction for us in Serbia, is that Donald Trump will know he has a trustworthy person by his side who does not hide his sympathies, origins, and support for Serbia in its geostrategic efforts. This fact alone is not enough to fully describe the significant advantage Rod Blagojevich can currently offer Serbia.
Rod Blagojevich's first touch with the Republic of Serbia within his political life occurred in the most challenging year for Serbian-American relations, 1999. As a member of the Democratic Party, led by then-President Clinton, and as a member of the U.S. Congress, the question arose: What would Rod do? Despite the difficult times, Blagojevich's decision not to support the continuation of NATO's bombing campaign against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was fundamentally rational and sincere. From the very beginning, he was opposed to the NATO intervention in our country. He voted against the resolution that allowed the use of military force in Yugoslavia. It should be noted that almost half of the Democratic Party members in Congress expressed a desire to stop the NATO intervention. Blagojevich’s close colleagues in Congress, such as Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr., fully shared his stance, alluding to recognizing the spin in American foreign policy. Reflecting on that period during an appearance on Tucker Carlson’s show on October 30, 2024, when discussing the issue of Kosovo and Metohija, he said, "If a referendum leading to secession is not approved," which NATO presented as a solution to the problem, "we will bomb you." Blagojevich characterized this approach as "extortion at the highest level." He also expressed his personal fear regarding "the realization of the truth about foreign policy at the highest level," which is based on the fact that it is "pre-determined by campaign donations," citing the example of Hillary Clinton, who during that period received strong support from the Albanian lobby in her Senate race.
During the NATO bombing of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Rod Blagojevich had two other important interventions: initiating a proposal for a 72-hour suspension of bombing in order to seek a diplomatic resolution to the conflict, or at least open the door to diplomacy to halt military operations, both with the aim of avoiding a scenario of "60,000 American soldiers dying in Vietnam due to the failure of diplomacy." Blagojevich himself noted that "forming a broad coalition within the Democratic Party to initiate this proposal was not easy," as it included people with differing views. However, the common element of agreement—a suspension of bombing for at least "three short days"—was deemed sufficiently valuable to sit down at the negotiating table, with the goal of ending the loss of human life and finding a solution for the complete cessation of military operations.
Another, certainly more publicized, intervention was his meeting with Slobodan Milošević in order to secure the release of three American soldiers who had been found and detained on the territory of Serbia. At the time, neither the Red Cross nor any other organization could provide information about their status. As someone who spoke the language and had contacts close to Milošević in Serbia, Rod Blagojevich was naturally chosen to travel to Belgrade in 1999, together with Jesse Jackson, the father of his friend in Congress. The way Blagojevich speaks about this significant event in his foreign policy career points to two things: his desire to advance American interests, but also his wish to begin the process of restoring the reputation of the Serbian people in the world. He believed that by securing the release of the American soldiers, Milošević would shed a number of negative labels that had been attached to him personally, and that were also unfairly applied to the Serbian people. This view was shared by Mr. Jackson, who led the negotiations. After being left alone for just 15 minutes that day, they received a call to the private residence of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia’s Foreign Minister, Mr. Živadin Jovanović, who informed them that Milošević had issued a decree for the release of the three soldiers. In the end, Blagojevich succeeded in securing the American interest, but also confirmed the position of his colleagues about the correctness of opposing the bombing of the Yugoslavia. At that moment, the U.S. media recognized his role, but this was certainly not enough to serve as an introduction to a broader ceasefire.
If we were to conclude this text about Rod Blagojevich, we would have more than enough reasons to be happy and proud of such an influential figure in American politics, who desires that Serbia and the Serbian people be recognized in the world in the right way. However, the story of Rod Blagojevich takes on a dramatic twist, as it will be remembered as a direct battle against the establishment and as a tale where the truth triumphs over the bars of a prison. Returning to the beginning of the text: Rod Blagojevich was released from prison on February 18, 2020. Why was he in prison?
In 2002, Rod Blagojevich became the governor of Illinois, marking the first time a Democrat held the office since 1972. His tenure, also during his second term starting in 2006, was marked by significant investments in education funds, infrastructure development, and reforms to the criminal code. Key elements of his second term included a focus on healthcare, gun control, and fighting discrimination. Blagojevich’s political approach remained consistent with his father’s beliefs, who viewed freedom as the highest value. This philosophy resonated with the people of Illinois, especially in Chicago, where many regarded Blagojevich as a political legend of the region. Following his release, one journalist remarked that they had "returned to the time of Blago."
By December 2003, Blagojevich began to suspect that his team and he were being monitored. He initially viewed this with some positivity, seeing it as "pressure" to ensure his team operated legally and ethically. However, over time, the FBI began tapping his phone conversations. Blagojevich believes that people close to him, like Tony Oresko, were pressured to provide false testimony about him and even about then-President Barack Obama.
Although there was some support within the Democratic Party for Blagojevich as a potential presidential candidate, the experienced governor ultimately saw Obama, rather than himself, take that role. Blagojevich welcomed and later supported Obama's political rise, especially in Chicago. One of the early signs Blagojevich found suspicious was the fact that prosecutors from the previous administration were left unscathed.
In 2009, Blagojevich was convicted of corruption charges based on FBI wiretaps in which he allegedly discussed selling the vacant U.S. Senate seat, a position once held by Obama, for personal gain. He served his sentence in a federal prison, which was considered an unusual move. Obama’s Senate seat was left vacant after his election to the presidency. Obama denied any direct or indirect contact with Blagojevich regarding the seat. Blagojevich, however, maintains the opposite.
On the other hand, the FBI released only 2% of the total recorded material, and during a second trial, Blagojevich's legal team demanded the release of all the recordings. The implication was that 98% of the material indicated there was no discussion of a "sale of the Senate seat," and that the 2% of material released was being used manipulatively. To this day, the full recordings have not been made public, and Obama has not addressed the issue directly for 16 years, when he stated that "the governor is no longer able to lead" and hoped Blagojevich would "become aware of that."
Now that he is free, Rod Blagojevich is no longer just a former member of Congress or the former governor of Illinois. After being released from prison six years earlier than his prescribed sentence, thanks to a commutation from President Trump, Blagojevich continues to present his story just as he did back in 2009. The other side of this dispute remains silent.
Rod Blagojevich has become a symbol of the fight against the injustice of the establishment, the loudest battle, but also of those who truly lost something in that fight. In Blagojevich's case, what was lost were years of his life. What he has not lost, however, is his enthusiasm, and now he is ready to do everything in his power to make sure his story is heard. If this approach feels familiar, remember Donald Trump’s campaign, which propagated a similar socio-political sentiment.
In the past few months, Rod Blagojevich has appeared on the biggest media platforms, and his appearances have garnered millions of views. As the author of this text, I would like to particularly highlight his visit to Belgrade this year. On June 25, he visited the Faculty of Political Science at the University of Belgrade, where he assured me, as well as the other colleagues present, that his vision is here to stay. It is especially important to note that Blagojevich always takes the opportunity to highlight the position of Serbia today, and in the years behind us, with the goal of improving Serbian-American relations, but also to provide information about our country that many in the United States are not sufficiently familiar with. We invite you to watch those interviews. What is also noticeable is the identical approach to improving Serbian-American relations that is cultivated by members of the Serbian-American Friendship Congress.
Each of the mentioned moments in Rod Blagojevich's career could be the subject of a separate article, and certainly, his name will continue to be mentioned, not only in our future texts. His political journey, legal struggles, and efforts to reshape his public image make him a figure of significant interest, one whose story resonates far beyond Illinois and the United States. As his influence grows, especially in the context of improving Serbian-American relations, Blagojevich's legacy will undoubtedly remain a topic of discussion for years to come.
Novak Đurić
President of the Youth Caucus
Serbian-American Friendship Congress
