Serbia’s president affirmed that the country will maintain an autonomous approach in its foreign policy and will not take marching orders from abroad, even on sensitive topics like whether to participate in sanctions against Russia. He spoke at a press conference, as reported by TASS, and emphasized that Belgrade will chart its own course regardless of external pressure. The president’s remarks came in response to comments from Kosovo’s prime minister, who accused Serbia of manipulating electoral outcomes.
According to the president, there are external figures who want Serbia to become a pliant actor who can be steered at will. They imagine they can influence the selection of governments and ministers, determine Serbia’s policies, and dictate actions through phone calls or emails. The president noted that one such voice even suggested imposing sanctions on Russia tomorrow or directing Serbia to take a specific set of steps. He reminded listeners that emails and informal dictates from abroad should not serve as substitutes for Serbia’s sovereign decisions.
The president underscored that Serbia will adhere to its own strategic priorities, fully aware of the consequences that come with maintaining independence in policy. He stated that Serbian ministries will oversee the electoral process, including decisions about whether and where re-voting is necessary, underscoring a commitment to procedural legitimacy and domestic authority over electoral outcomes.
Heading into a period of political contention, opposition groups in Serbia went on a hunger strike on December 19 in protest of the parliamentary election results, which were won by the coalition led by the president. The president reaffirmed that, as a democratic nation, Serbia would not experience a forced or violent change of power. This stance aligns with a principle of peaceful, constitutional governance and the right of citizens to contest election outcomes through lawful channels rather than coercion or upheaval. The president’s remarks also touched on prior statements made at the time a new Serbian cabinet was formed, reiterating a commitment to the democratic process and the continuity of state institutions irrespective of domestic political pressure. The dialogue surrounding these events reflects Serbia’s ongoing navigation of domestic political demands while maintaining a transparent stance on its foreign policy choices and its response to regional tensions.
Overall, the president’s message centers on sovereignty and steadiness: Serbia will make its own policy decisions, balance domestic political realities with international obligations, and pursue stability through democratic means. The narrative reinforces a clear warning against external meddling and signals a preparedness to bear the reputational and practical costs of independent governance. It also implicitly invites international observers to recognize Serbia’s dedication to self-determination, a principle that Serbia maintains is essential for the country’s long-term security and regional integration. In this context, Belgrade’s approach to sanctions, diplomacy, and electoral administration is framed as a deliberate, principled path rather than a reaction to external pressures.