In addition to securing the votes of millions of Americans in the November election, Donald Trump has also garnered the sympathies of a large portion of Serbian citizens. Serbia is recognized as the foreign country where he enjoys the highest support.
Why do Serbian citizens like the former US president, and how does he maintain his popularity more than a decade after entering the political scene? These are the questions that Euronews Serbia sought to answer.
Ahead of the American election, while the rest of the world wondered who the new occupant of the White House would be, and most of Europe pinned their hopes on Kamala Harris’s victory, the citizens of Serbia had a clear favorite.
An international survey published in late October revealed that 59% of Serbians supported Trump—a higher percentage than in any other country.
“Beyond our knack for picking winners, another reason Serbians are drawn to Trump is that he represents a break from liberal policies, the costs of which Serbia has often borne over the past 25–30 years. Trump, although not strictly conservative, is undoubtedly pragmatic—something the modern world desperately needs. He seems more aware of the risks posed by NATO expansionism and similar actions of the past three decades, which have created challenges for the world and especially for Serbia, given its proximity to the borders of major powers,” said Srđan Garčević, a podcaster and blogger.
On the other hand, Zoran Panović, program director at Demostat, believes that Serbian sympathies for Trump should be viewed in the context of their alignment with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“A significant portion of Serbian public opinion hopes that Trump will reach a strategic agreement with Putin, which would benefit Serbia. Some even take it to extremes, believing that Trump’s second term could portray Serbia’s failed policies of the late 1980s and 1990s as a form of global avant-garde. Trump, Trumpism, and affection for Trump have proven to be the most effective ways of mending the strained Serbian-American relationship,” said Panović.
Expectations from the new US administration
The hopes pinned on the new American administration are not limited to the general public. Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić also has high expectations.
“I am confident that, with the support of our friends—by which I mean Trump’s entire team, many of whom were present during our talks tonight—they will make America great again, and we will make Serbia a decent country capable of excellent cooperation with the United States,” said President Vučić.
Vučić also expressed hope that Trump might visit Serbia. He recently suggested that Belgrade could host a meeting between the Russian and American presidents.
One reason for optimism lies in the relationships that Belgrade established with Trump’s first administration, particularly with Richard Grenell, the former special envoy for the Belgrade-Pristina negotiations. Grenell is expected to serve as a special envoy for strategic missions in the new administration.
Ambassador Jonathan Moore’s perspective
Former US ambassador and Atlantic Council fellow Jonathan Moore also discussed this topic with Euronews Serbia.
When asked what Serbia could expect from Trump’s presidency, given that research shows Trump to be the most popular US president in Serbia, Moore cautioned that the Balkans are not currently a focal point of US policy.
“As for Serbia and the Balkans in general, Trump is, of course, familiar with the region. He has hosted various leaders, including President Vučić, in his office. However, I must add that the Balkans are not a priority for our new president at the moment. Domestically, issues such as illegal immigration and economic challenges are pressing priorities for Trump.
We also await announcements of ambassadorial appointments. We’ve had capable ambassadors in Belgrade, Pristina, and Tirana, among other places. But the process of appointing new ambassadors often takes several months,” said Moore.
The term of Ambassador Christopher Hill in Serbia has ended, raising questions about when Belgrade can expect the appointment of a new US ambassador.
“This depends on President Trump. He may announce ambassadorial appointments tomorrow or the day after. He has already named several ambassadors worldwide, particularly in Europe but not exclusively. It’s worth noting that any country has the right to reject an ambassadorial candidate. This is an established aspect of diplomatic protocol. After a country accepts a nominee, the appointment must be confirmed by the US Senate.
Due to other priorities, it’s possible that ambassadorial residences in the Balkans may remain vacant for several months,” Moore explained.
(Euronews, 21.01.2025)
https://www.euronews.rs/srbija/politika/154077/tramp-i-srbi-zasto-je-podrska-predsedniku-sad-visoka-u-srbiji-i-sta-ocekujemo-od-njega/vest
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Publish date : 2025-01-21 00:51:00
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