Belgrade

August 12, 2026 | Daniel Vaynshteyn, Ivana Stradner

Vučić Welcomes Zelensky in Serbia: Turning Point or Tactical Gambit?

On Saturday, Volodymyr Zelensky made his first official visit to Serbia, a country long seen as one of Russia’s closest European partners. For some in the West, it was proof that Serbian President Aleksandar...

August 3, 2026 | Ivana Stradner |

Why the OSCE Shouldn’t Meet in Serbia

The OSCE’s recent decision to hold its 2027 meeting in Belgrade will reward Serbia for its democratic backsliding and pro-authoritarian foreign policy.

July 2, 2026 | Keti Korkiya, Ivana Stradner

Serbia and Georgia aren’t our friends — They’re authoritarian regimes courting Trump

When autocrats seek legitimacy, they often travel in pairs. Such was the case when Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic traveled to Tbilisi in June. While this was the first visit by a Serbian...

April 29, 2026 | Ivana Stradner, Elaine K. Dezenski, Angela Howard

China’s beachhead in the Balkans

Serbia is playing a dangerous game with the West. While the European Union and the United States are pursuing a partnership with and EU membership for Serbia, Serbia is cultivating a rapidly...

March 11, 2026 | Ivana Stradner |

Hungary, Slovakia, and Serbia chose Tehran over Trump

The leaders of Slovakia, Hungary, and Serbia have long touted their loyalty to President Donald Trump, courting Washington’s conservative wing. But when Trump launched his war...

November 14, 2025 | Angela Howard, Ivana Stradner

Trump should reject Serbia sanctions waiver request

Serbia and Russia are lobbying frantically for a reprieve from U.S. sanctions on Serbia’s oil and gas company, NIS, which Washington targeted due to its majority Russian ownership. Belgrade...

June 3, 2025 | Ivana Stradner |

Russia Accuses Serbia of Betrayal

Despite the traditional rhetoric of Slavic brothers united in common cause, Serbia continues to look out for its own interest, knowing Moscow is willing to sacrifice the Serbs.

May 15, 2025 | Ivana Stradner |

What to Do About Fico and Vučić in Moscow

The leaders of Slovakia and Serbia both went to Moscow to celebrate Victory Day with Putin – despite EU warnings not to. How can Brussels discourage further collaboration?

May 4, 2025 | Ivana Stradner, Marina Chernin

Serbian and Russian Orthodox Churches Unite Against West

As part of Russia’s plan to undermine cohesion in Europe, it hopes to pull Serbia away from its path toward the EU by emphasizing traditional Orthodox ties.

April 21, 2025 | Ivana Stradner |

Serbia’s Future Hangs in the Balance

Serbia’s anti-corruption movement has reached new heights: a demonstration in Belgrade this March yielded hundreds of thousands of peaceful protestors and marked the largest demonstration in Serbia since the monumental 1990s protests against the tyrannical Milošević regime.

November 18, 2024 | Isaac A. Harris |

‘Dancing with the Dragon’

“Dancing with the Dragon” by Patrick Jenevein offers a deeply insightful exploration of China’s business landscape from the 1990s to today, presented through the eyes of an American businessman entrenched...

August 13, 2024 | Behnam Ben Taleblu, Janatan Sayeh

Iran is Creeping into the International Arms Market

Almost overnight, Iran has positioned itself as a weapons exporter to rogue regimes around the world.

May 29, 2024 | Elaine K. Dezenski, Josh Birenbaum

The bonds that bind: Our adversarial sovereign bond habit

No one is obligated to help China fund its war machine. The decision to buy Chinese sovereign bonds should reside with informed investors, Elaine Dezenski and Joshua Birenbaum write.

November 7, 2023 | David R. Shedd, Ivana Stradner

Russia’s Second Front in Europe

The West Must Stop Putin From Provoking Conflict in the Balkans

August 26, 2023 | Ivana Stradner, Jason Jay Smart

Athens Declaration Unites Southern Europe Behind Ukraine

President Zelensky's trip to Athens this week proved to be pivotal in advancing Ukraine's longtime objectives of moving towards EU membership.

August 23, 2023 | Ivana Stradner, Jason Jay Smart

Is Russia Now Weaponizing Music?

Russia has resorted to a wide range of tactics to keep nations within its orbit. Now it’s taken to using music to win over foreign public support.

August 22, 2023 | Ivana Stradner |

Zelensky Calls Meeting with Serbian President ‘Fruitful’

Tensions between Ukraine and Serbia have been high, with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic saying on Aug. 10 that 'If Ukraine recognizes Kosovo’s independence, it will lose everything in one day.'

July 25, 2023 | Ivana Stradner, Elaine K. Dezenski

The Russia-Serbia Nexus – EU Has to Step Up and Do its Part

“The West must do a better job of imposing costs on destructive Balkan actors. But to do so effectively, the West must act as one.”

June 26, 2023 | Ivana Stradner |

Time to Stop Disruptive Russian-Serbian Machinations in the Balkans

While most of the West focuses on the war in Ukraine, Moscow and Belgrade are fueling the fires over Kosovo on eve of sensitive historic anniversary.

June 14, 2023 | Ivana Stradner |

Why is Biden appeasing a Putin pawn as NATO forces are attacked?

As Russian President Vladimir Putin performs poorly in Ukraine, he will employ every possible tactic to distract the West. This time, Russia, with Serbia’s help, is provoking chaos in Europe’s...