“There are too many obstacles that complicate the flow of investment between Europe, China, and the United States,” said Vučić in an interview after returning from Beijing with more than $1 billion in investment pledges for Serbia. Protectionism “ultimately kills Europe,” he added.
“The most difficult and biggest issue for all of Europe will be how people work: how we will deal with this,” he told Bloomberg on Monday in Belgrade. “We are all living well. We don’t see what is happening around us.”
Bloomberg notes that during Vučić’s 12 years in power, Serbia has become one of China’s main entry points into Europe, with billions of dollars invested in its industries, from mining to humanoid robots. President Xi Jinping has described relations between the two countries as a “firm friendship.”
The article states that Chinese investments in the Balkan country are now nearly catching up with those of the European Union, which Vučić still intends to join, although EU membership is now less popular among the Serbian public than ever before.
Vučić is “betting” that his focus on job creation and wealth-building through China and other allies such as the United Arab Emirates will keep him in power despite mostly student-led protests against him, now in their second year.
“We will do our job” when it comes to fulfilling EU criteria, Vučić said at the presidential palace in the Serbian capital. “But in the meantime, we have to take care of ourselves. We cannot wait forever.”
As Bloomberg points out, Vučić remains a dominant figure in Serbian politics. He has positioned the country as an EU candidate, a gateway for China, and an ally of both U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin, despite cooling relations since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Although he has not cut ties with Moscow, Vučić expressed regret over the deadlock in the war between Russia and Ukraine, “our Slavic brothers, very close friends,” which he does not expect to end soon.
The report also notes that Vučić has faced unrest at home and protests following a November 2024 accident in which a canopy collapsed at a railway station on a route upgraded by Chinese companies. Serbia ranks below all EU member states on Transparency International’s annual corruption index.
Among the key demands of protesters, mostly led by students, are early elections. In the interview, Vučić said Serbia will hold parliamentary and presidential elections this year.
He ruled out the possibility of another presidential term after his current one ends in 2027, in line with the constitution. Asked whether he would consider returning as prime minister, he said it “could happen,” as his Serbian Progressive Party may need his leadership.
Despite the protests, his party leads polls with at least 40% support, far ahead of a still-fluid, leaderless student movement. No one has yet emerged as his direct challenger, while the main opposition remains divided.
Meanwhile, Vučić is focusing on foreign policy. During his recent visit to China, Xi gave him a reception similar to those for Trump and Putin, including a ceremony in the Great Hall of the People with a military band performance and a 21-gun salute. Xi also awarded him the Friendship Medal, China’s highest honor for foreign citizens.
Vučić saw the visit as the culmination of his efforts to deepen cooperation with China. So far, Serbia has received nearly €8 billion in direct Chinese investments and almost the same amount in loans supporting Chinese contractors chosen for Serbian infrastructure projects.
The article also mentions potential U.S. investment in a country with deep-rooted distrust of the United States since NATO’s bombing of Belgrade during the Kosovo war.
Vučić called Trump a “soulmate” who prioritizes national interests above all else. Although a plan to build a Trump Tower in Belgrade last year failed due to local opposition, Vučić said he is open to other deals with the U.S.
The apparent rift between Europe and the U.S. is not a problem, he said, as Americans are seeking bilateral agreements in the east of the continent, where economies are growing faster. The U.S. could invest up to $15 billion in Serbia in various energy and construction projects, Vučić said, without providing further details.
That said, Vučić still sees EU membership as his goal and called on European leaders to make a bold decision and continue enlargement. However, shifting timelines and an unclear vision of when accession might happen have reduced its popularity among Serbia’s 6.6 million citizens to a record low of 35% this year.
“We are on the path to the EU and it does not matter what pressure we face because of it,” Vučić said. “We will stay on that path.”
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