Foreign relations of Serbia

Bosnia and Herzegovina

See Bosnia and Herzegovina–Serbia relations

Bosnia and Herzegovina has an embassy in Belgrade. Serbia has an embassy in Sarajevo and a consulate-general in Banja Luka. Both countries are full members of the Council of Europe, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA). Serbia is an official candidate and Bosnia is recognized as potential candidate country by the European Union.

Croatia

See Croatia–Serbia relations

The two countries established diplomatic relations on 9 September 1996. Croatia has an embassy in Belgrade and a general consulate in Subotica. Serbia has an embassy in Zagreb and two general consulates (in Rijeka and Vukovar). There are around 200,000 people of Serbian descent living in Croatia and around 70,000 people of Croatian descent living in Serbia.

Kosovo

On 17 February 2008, the former province of Kosovo unilaterally declared independence from Serbia, forming the Republic of Kosovo in the process. Serbia, Russia, China, Algeria, Morocco, Greece, Mexico, Pakistan, Romania, Ukraine, Spain, India, Brazil, Nigeria, South Africa, Argentina, Belarus, Palestine, Bolivia, and many others do not recognize Kosovo as an independent state. Serbia has vowed to fight Kosovo's admission to international organizations. The Republic of Kosovo does not have and has not yet applied for United Nations membership. As of 27 February 2017, 111 United Nations member states and Taiwan recognize Kosovo as an independent state. But still, with the strong and firm opposition of both Russia and China and their allies, Kosovo has no current prospects of becoming a member of the United Nations.

Serbia, in response to nations which have recognized Kosovo as an independent nation, has consistently recalled its ambassadors to these nations in an act of protest. These countries include the United States, Albania, Bulgaria, Republic of Macedonia, Colombia, Croatia, France, Germany, Hungary, Turkey, Slovenia and the United Kingdom.

Montenegro

See Montenegro–Serbia relations

Montenegro has an embassy in Belgrade. Serbia has an embassy in Podgorica and a Consulate-General in Herceg Novi.

Macedonia

See Macedonia–Serbia relations

The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia that was formed in 1992 by the remaining Yugoslav republics Montenegro and Serbia established diplomatic relations with the Republic of Macedonia on 8 April 1996. The establishment of bilateral relations has been done under Macedonia's constitutional name – Republic of Macedonia. Serbia therefore is one of 125 countries in the world recognizing Macedonia under the constitutional name. Macedonia has an embassy in Belgrade, while Serbia's embassy is located in Skopje.

Slovenia

See Serbia–Slovenia relations

Other neighbouring countries

Multilateral regional co-operation falls within the priorities of foreign policy and international relations of Serbia as an instrument and substance of its co-operation with neighbours in the region and within the context of the Serbia inclusion in European integrations, Euro-Atlantic structures and EU.

In the context of Serbia inclusion in multilateral economic and political relations and integrations as well as in the context of globalization, the relations and co-operation of regional character are of importance in the field of liberalization of trade and further affirmation of market economy and free trade. In that respect, the efforts to turn the region of South Eastern Europe into a free trade zone in which Serbia is actively participating through bilateral negotiations with neighbours and in the region (free trade agreements with Macedonia, Hungary, Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as negotiations with Croatia, Bulgaria, Slovenia and Albania), are of particular importance. Serbia enjoys relatively good relations with its neighbouring countries. The border with Bosnia and Herzegovina along the Drina River continues to be an issue, whilst the issue of independence for Kosovo is of particular concern to Serbia.

Rest of Europe

Serbia has signed the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with the European Union on 29 April 2008 and is in the process of the Republic of being admitted into the framework of the European Union as a full-fledged member state. Serbia officially applied for European Union membership on 22 December 2009, and the European Commission recommended making it an official candidate on 12 October 2011. After the vote of the 27 EU foreign ministers on 28 February 2012, where with 26 votes for and 1 vote against, a candidate status recommendation was issued, and Serbia received full candidate status on 1 March. On 28 June 2013 the European Council endorsed the Council of Ministers conclusions and recommendations to open accession negotiations with Serbia. In December 2013 the Council of the European Union approved opening negotiations on Serbia's accession in January 2014, and the first Intergovernmental Conference was held on 21 January at the European Council in Brussels.

Middle East and North Africa

Serbia enjoys good relations with the Middle East, these are inherited by the independent Serbia from its time as the hub of a federation (i.e., Yugoslavia) which was very active in the Non-Aligned Movement during the 1960s. Serbia's closest partner in the region is the United Arab Emirates. Israel, Syria, Iraq and Egypt are important economic partners of Serbia, as Israel invests in the Serbian construction industry and Egypt is a large market for Zastava automobiles. Serbia also has an important security agreement with Iran, another important economic and political partner of Serbia. Serbia also maintains diplomatic relations with the Palestinian National Authority. Serbia wishes to intensify relations with the CCASG countries, namely Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait. Also many of the North African countries (Algeria, Libya, Tunisia and Morocco) enjoy good relations with Serbia and are important trading partners. Tunisia is a hugely popular tourist destination for Serbs as there is no visa required for Serb nationals entering the country.

Asia

Serbia has excellent relations with countries such as China, Japan, Indonesia, India, Kazakhstan and South Korea. These countries are important economic partners for Serbia in Asia.

Sub-Saharan Africa

Ever since the times of Josip Broz Tito and the Non-Aligned Movement, Serbia has enjoyed excellent relations with African nations. South Africa is Serbia's closest ally in Africa and the two nations have had excellent relations since the signing of diplomatic relations in 1992 following the end of the Apartheid system. South Africa is also home to around 20,000 Serbs, mainly living in the Johannesburg area. South Africa is also voicing support for Serbia over the Kosovo issue. Nelson Mandela was also made an honorary citizen of Belgrade. Serbia is also actively involved in many investments in Angola with whom it has excellent political and economic relations.

North America

Serbia has very poor relations with the United States and Canada because of their recognition of Kosovo's independence. On 25 February 2008, Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Koštunica demanded that the United States rescind its recognition of Kosovo, warning that "there will be no stability until the fake state" is annulled.

Latin America

Serbia has very good relations with Latin America, except Colombia and Panama, which did recognize Kosovo's independence. Brazil, the largest country in the region, decided not to recognize Kosovo's independence until an agreement with Serbia is reached.

Overview

Serbia has established diplomatic relations with 188 UN member states, the Holy See, the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, and the European Union.

Serbia has not established diplomatic relations with: