Serbian President Vučić Hails Erdoğan as ‘Great World Leader’ Amidst Deepening Bilateral Ties
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić has characterized Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan as “a great world leader,” emphasizing the strategic importance of Ankara to Belgrade following a series of high-level meetings. Speaking after the third session of the High-Level Cooperation Council in Ankara, Vučić declared Türkiye one of Serbia’s most crucial partners, signaling a continued era of pragmatic cooperation between the two nations despite historical and political complexities in the Balkans.
The summit, described by the Serbian President as “highly productive,” focused heavily on expanding economic cooperation, infrastructure development, and regional security. Vučić’s praise underscores the pivotal role Erdoğan plays in the Western Balkans, where Türkiye has leveraged its diplomatic influence to mediate tensions and foster trade. The leaders discussed key infrastructure projects, most notably the Belgrade-Sarajevo highway, which is seen as a vital artery for connecting the region and stabilizing relations with Bosnia and Herzegovina. Trade volume between the two nations has surged in recent years, with Turkish companies heavily investing in Serbian textiles, construction, and manufacturing sectors.
This blossoming diplomatic romance, however, occurs against a backdrop of deep-seated geopolitical friction. The partnership faces significant objections regarding the issue of Kosovo. Türkiye was one of the first nations to recognize Kosovo’s independence in 2008, a stance that remains a primary point of contention for Serbia. While Vučić and Erdoğan have managed to compartmentalize this disagreement in favor of economic gain, it remains a volatile undercurrent in their diplomatic engagement. Furthermore, recent sales of Turkish Bayraktar drones to Kosovo’s security forces have drawn sharp criticism from Belgrade, complicating the narrative of seamless cooperation.
Observers also note that the warming ties between Belgrade and Ankara are viewed with caution by Western powers. Both leaders face persistent accusations from the European Union and the United States regarding democratic backsliding and media censorship within their respective borders. For Vučić, strengthening ties with Erdoğan serves as a strategic balancing act, allowing Serbia to diversify its alliances beyond the EU, Russia, and China. Yet, critics argue that this alignment may further distance Serbia from the democratic reforms required for its prospective European Union membership, entrenching a model of governance that prioritizes strongman politics over institutional transparency.
