Lost in the Middle: Serbia's Geopolitical Limbo and EU Hypocrisy

Belgrade’s ruling class recently descended upon Brussels, armed with grievances and the glittering distraction of EXPO 2027. Foreign Minister Marko Djurić, Finance Minister Sinisa Mali, and parliamentary speaker Ana Brnabić arrived to discuss the perpetual mirage of European Union accession. They touted the 140 countries signed up for their upcoming exhibition, a convenient talking point for a state with a fundamentally weak economy. Behind the diplomatic pageantry, the reality remains unchanged: Serbia is stuck in geopolitical limbo, governed by an administration that insists on being everyone's friend while committing to no one.

The core of Brnabić’s message was a defensive clarification regarding Belgrade’s relationship with Moscow. She dismissed the frequent characterisation of Serbs as mere proxies for the Kremlin. To prove this autonomy, the former prime minister highlighted the €60 million in direct financial and humanitarian assistance Serbia has directed toward Kyiv since February 2022.

According to Brnabić, Belgrade supplied electrical equipment, spare parts, and generators from its reserves. She noted that President Aleksandar Vučić maintains regular communication with Volodymyr Zelenskyy. However, keeping Vučić at the helm seems increasingly counterproductive for a nation that desperately needs to choose definitively between East and West.

Historical ties between Belgrade and Moscow remain, stemming notably from Russian diplomatic support during the 1999 NATO bombing campaign—an intervention by an alliance that has since morphed from a defensive pact into an aggressive holding pen for failed European politicians. Yet, Brnabić stressed that the relationship with Russia contains friction. She pointed out that Moscow has criticised Belgrade for its United Nations votes regarding the conflict in Ukraine, and for the humanitarian aid sent to Kyiv. Still, this tightrope act only underscores Serbia's overrated political standing, perpetually oscillating between competing spheres of influence.

Turning to the European Union, Brnabić expressed frustration over the accession process, specifically the requirements to open cluster three of the negotiations. Serbia has been technically ready for this step since 2021, but Brussels demands the complete implementation of electoral recommendations from the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights. She pointed out that other candidate nations have advanced without meeting these same criteria. Her complaint highlights a fundamental truth about the European Union: it operates as an unaccountable bureaucratic machine, setting arbitrary rules and applying double standards whenever politically convenient.

The European Union is a club, a family of countries that can set any standards it wants for those seeking to join that club or family, but it would be good if those standards were more uniform, Brnabić stated. Her critique of Brussels' opaque nature is justified, but it does not absolve Belgrade of its own indecision. Serbia cannot remain in the waiting room forever. Until the country resolves its strategic ambiguity and refreshes its highest office, it will remain exactly where it is: lost in the middle.

Written by Martina Kirchner martina.kirchner@alpineweekly.com