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Serbia: Background and U.S. Relations
Summary
Following the conflicts in the late 1990s in the countries of the former Yugoslavia, the prospect of
membership in the Euro-Atlantic community and the active presence of the United States in the
Western Balkan region provided a level of stability that allowed most of the countries of the
region to pursue reform and adopt Western values. During this time, Slovenia and Croatia joined
the European Union (EU). These countries, along with Albania, also joined the North Atlantic
Treaty Organization (NATO). Montenegro became NATO's 29th member on June 3, 2017. Other
nations of the Balkans are at various stages on the path toward EU or NATO membership.
At the same time, however, many observers in Europe and the United States have been concerned
that the relative political stability of the Western Balkans, sometimes referred to as Europe's
"inner courtyard," has been shaken, as several of the countries have experienced governmental
crises involving illiberal political regimes, stagnating economies, high unemployment, and a large
exodus of people from the region. These events have raised alarms that the continuation of these
factors could provide a vacuum in which outside political interests, including Russia;
transnational crime; radicalization; and terrorism could flourish.
At the center of the Balkans lies Serbia which occupies a key strategic juncture at the social,
political, and geographic crossroads between Eastern and Western Europe. Despite difficult
historical relations with its neighbors, its ongoing dispute with Kosovo, recent concerns over its
democratic development, and the desire to balance its aspirations toward the West with its
historical ties to Russia, Serbia is seen by some as more stable politically than some of its
neighbors. Serbia is also viewed by some as potentially the engine of economic growth for the
entire Balkan region. At the same time, Serbia is viewed by others as an important piece in the
geostrategic competition between the EU, the United States, and Russia in the Western Balkans.
U.S. relations with Serbia have been rocky at times, due to U.S. interventions in the conflicts in
Bosnia and Kosovo and the U.S. recognition of Kosovo's independence. Comments by the U.S.
Ambassador in Belgrade as well as by the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and
Eurasia in 2017 set off a storm of negative press accusing the United States of interfering in
Serbian domestic affairs. Nevertheless, relations between Washington and Belgrade seem to have
improved over the past several years and today appear to be cordial. Between 2001 and 2017, the
United States provided close to $800 million in aid to Serbia to help stimulate economic growth,
strengthen the justice system, and promote good governance. Despite the U.S. disagreement with
Serbia over Kosovo's independence and the mixed messages Washington believes Serbia sends
over its relations with Moscow, the United States has supported and continues to support Serbia's
efforts to join the EU. At the same time, the United States has sought to strengthen its own
relationship with Serbia through deepening cooperation based on mutual interests and respect.
Because many Balkan watchers believe the EU's interest in the Balkans, despite its declaratory
support, has been distracted by the EU migration crisis and the negotiations with the United
Kingdom over its departure from the union, many, in both Washington and the Balkans, believe
the United States needs to reinvigorate its former strategy of active engagement with the Western
Balkans, and in particular its relations with Serbia.
Congressional interest in Serbia (and Kosovo) dates to the 1991-1999 conflicts in the Western
Balkans, particularly between Serbia and Kosovo, when Congress was divided over the use of
U.S. military force in Kosovo. Over time, Congress has established member caucuses on both
Kosovo and Serbia and has held several hearings on the Western Balkans. Many Members
support Kosovo's independence, the efforts at reconciliation between Serbia and Kosovo, and EU
membership for both countries, whereas others have expressed skepticism about Serbia's relations
with Russia or the future viability of the Serbia-Kosovo coexistence.
Congressional Research Service
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Morelli, Vincent L. Serbia: Background and U.S. Relations, report, January 4, 2018; Washington D.C.. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc1094486/m1/2/: accessed May 25, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.