The strategic dialogue involves elevating bilateral cooperation between the two countries to a higher level, with long-term cooperation in certain areas and regular meetings. By opening a strategic dialogue with the United States, the Republic of Serbia completes its strategic cooperation with all the key players in foreign policy (Washington, Brussels, Moscow, and Beijing). Vladimir Marinković, the President of the Congress of Serbian-American Friendship, stated in an interview for Tanjug that the United States sees Serbia as its partner in the region with this approach. This is further confirmed by the fact that the United States does not have a strategic dialogue with any other country in the Western Balkans.
The Congress of Serbian-American Friendship initiated and presented the Declaration on Strategic Partnership between Serbia and the United States in 2020, marking two years since the founding of the Congress, at a time when enhancing bilateral relations with the United States was one of the most challenging foreign policy endeavors. The then U.S. Ambassador to Serbia, H.E. Godfrey, emphasized that "the common goal is Serbia's accession to the European Union," while Mr. Marinković stated that "the strategic partnership between Serbia and the United States is achievable." Further implementation was halted by the emerging Covid-19 crisis as well as other international crises that followed in the subsequent period, during which the Congress managed to maintain its focus on the relevant ongoing issues.
It should be noted that Vladimir Marinković publicly presented the idea to begin a strategic dialogue between the United States and Serbia as early as 2017. As the then Vice President of the Serbian National Assembly, following a meeting with U.S. Senator John McCain, Marinković emphasized the need for closer cooperation between the U.S. and Serbia in the field of security, particularly in the joint fight against terrorism. He specifically highlighted that Serbia desired a strategic partnership with the United States, aiming to strengthen cooperation across all areas. McCain notably acknowledged the commitment of then-Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić and the composition of the parliament to enhancing regional cooperation and reconciliation.
A few months ago, in an interview for Kurir, the president of the Congress of Serbian-American Friendship stated that every industrial revolution has defined the need for countries to quickly adapt and respond to changes while maximizing the use of their own resources, if they have them. With its resources, Serbia can become a strategic partner of the United States and a key ally in this region, said Marinković, who believes that the result of such a partnership would be long-term stability and hundreds of American investments. Marinković emphasized in media statements that he deeply believes the idea of a strategic partnership between the Republic of Serbia and the United States will withstand various foreign and domestic pressures that could undermine it. He particularly stressed that missing this opportunity would result in Serbia falling further behind the West, as has been the case in the past 30 years.
In his statement for Tanjug, Marinković concluded that this will enable further economic development of Serbia, as the arrival of American investments will also create the necessary conditions for investments from countries that are close to and partners of the United States.
The strategic dialogue between the U.S. and Serbia will primarily take place in the areas of economy and energy, but also in the form of support the United States is ready to provide to Serbia in the areas of European integration and resolving the final status of Kosovo and Metohija.
Countries that have a strategic dialogue with the United States include Poland, Greece, Egypt, India, Cyprus, Uzbekistan, and Oman.
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Novak Đurić
President of the Youth Caucus
Congress of Serbian-American Friendship
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Nikola Perišić
Project Management, Youth Caucus
Congress of Serbian-American Friendship
