Serbia – US Relations in the Two Decades Since the Democratic Changes

Apstrakt

The paper analyzes relations between Serbia and the US which went through several phases: the phase of rising cooperation (2000–2004), the phase of both cooperation and worsening (2005–2008), the phase of cooling and silent confrontation (2008–2010), the phase of mild recovery, routinization and moderate distancing of the US from the region (2010–2017), the phase of the unsuccessful attempt of the US to lead the mediation process in the dialogue between Belgrade and Prishtina (2018–2020). The central problem in mutual relations was caused by the leading role of the USA in encouraging and recognizing the unilateral declaration of independence of Kosovo, which led to a cooling of relations. In spite of this, the previously achieved forms of cooperation did not suffer. After the adoption of the joint text of the resolution of Serbia and the EU countries on Kosovo and Metohija in the UN General Assembly (2010), relations between Serbia and the US improved. Relations between the two countries became routinized except for the brief period of the last two years of the Trump presidency. Since then, the US has returned to its role of supporting the EU integration process of the region as well as EU efforts to meditate in the Beograd – Prishtina dialogue.