As he noted, this change has altered public perception in a country where memories of the 1999 NATO bombing remain deeply ingrained.
In an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital, Vučić praised Trump’s approach to the Balkans, arguing that the administration’s focus on economic cooperation rather than political pressure resonated with many Serbs.
“President Trump and his team have worked very diligently and dedicatedly in the Western Balkans so far,” Vučić said, adding that many Serbs view his administration very differently from previous U.S. governments.
“If you ask people in Serbia simply to compare the Clinton and Trump administrations, or Democrats and Republicans, you wouldn’t believe it,” Vučić said. “It would be 90 to 10 or 95 to 5.”
The comparison is particularly striking in Serbia, where many still associate the United States with NATO’s 1999 bombing campaign during the Kosovo conflict, launched to stop the repression of ethnic Albanians in Kosovo by Serbian forces and which remains one of the most significant events in modern Serbian history.
Vučić said he had recently invited Trump to visit Serbia and predicted that the U.S. president would receive an enthusiastic welcome.
“I hope we will be able to host him,” Vučić said.
“More people would be ready to greet and welcome him than he could expect... I dare say even more than hundreds of thousands of people.”
The Serbian president said that improving relations between Washington and Belgrade is increasingly focused on the economy, investment, technological cooperation, and shared conservative values.
According to Vučić, Serbia and the United States are preparing to launch a strategic dialogue focused on energy, infrastructure, artificial intelligence, defense cooperation, and investment opportunities. Projects under discussion include energy infrastructure, liquefied natural gas cooperation, data centers, and advanced computing technologies.
The growing friendship comes as Serbia seeks to position itself as a regional economic hub while continuing its long-standing ambition to join the European Union.
Vučić pointed to preparations for Expo 2027 in Belgrade, with nearly 150 participating countries, as evidence of Serbia’s growing international profile and economic ambitions.
Vučić, who has been Serbia’s dominant political figure since becoming prime minister in 2014 and president in 2017, pointed to the country’s economic growth as proof of its transformation.
“Our GDP was €32 billion when I became prime minister,” Vučić said. “This year it will exceed €100 billion, which is about $120 billion.”
Vučić’s relationship with Donald Trump dates back to Trump’s first term, when the White House helped broker a series of economic normalization agreements between Serbia and Kosovo. Rather than focusing first on the politically explosive issue of Kosovo’s status, the Trump administration emphasized infrastructure projects, transportation links, and investments aimed at improving ties between the two sides.
In September 2020, Vučić and former Kosovo Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti signed U.S.-brokered economic agreements at the White House, including commitments to expand rail and highway connections and promote investment. Trump described the agreement as a breakthrough achieved by focusing on “job creation and economic growth” rather than long-standing political disputes.
Asked whether he would consider recognizing Kosovo’s independence if doing so would unlock Serbia’s economic future and accelerate its path toward EU membership, Vučić rejected the premise, arguing that economic cooperation and improved relations should come before discussions about political status.
“I am not saying that I am ready to violate my Constitution... I have always been open to talks or compromise solutions. I have always been open to developing excellent economic ties and undoubtedly much better political relations. But I have never spoken about recognizing someone’s independence,” he said.
While Serbia continues to pursue membership in the European Union, it has also maintained ties with Russia and China, a balancing act that has drawn attention amid Russia’s war in Ukraine and rising geopolitical tensions worldwide.
Asked whether Serbia can continue navigating between East and West in an increasingly divided world, or whether it will eventually have to choose a side, Vučić rejected the idea that countries must align with opposing geopolitical blocs. Instead, he pointed to both his visit to China and Trump’s engagement with Beijing as examples of what he described as pragmatic diplomacy focused on national interests.
“President Trump did not go there because of vanity,” Vučić said of Trump’s visit to China.
“He brought along all the leading figures of the United States in order to make better deals and earn more money for American companies.”
Vučić said he had adopted a similar approach during his own visit, arguing that leaders should prioritize economic opportunities for their citizens rather than ideological goals.
“I come from a small country. I was looking for more investment and fighting for the interests of my people,” he said.
The Serbian president added that the same pragmatic approach should guide efforts to resolve ongoing conflicts in both Ukraine and the Middle East.
“It is always better to have a thousand days of negotiations than one day of war,” he said.
Asked about tensions involving Iran and the broader conflict in the Middle East, Vučić reiterated Serbia’s support for Israel, a position that increasingly distinguishes Belgrade from some European governments.
“I am the president of a country that is one of the very few in Europe that does not hesitate to cooperate and work with Israel,” he said. “And I am proud to say that publicly and openly.”
Vučić also warned about what he described as growing antisemitism around the world.
“From time to time, I become very concerned when I see many antisemitic slogans and banners,” he said.
He added that Serbia has resisted such trends and pledged that it would continue to do so under his leadership.
“That does not happen in Serbia, and it will not happen while I am president.”
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