Rijiju: India supports Serbia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, we are partners in the Global South

India’s Minister for Parliamentary and Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju told Kosovo Online that India and Serbia are partners in the Global South, as well as trusted friends whose relationship is based on longstanding ties of friendship between the two peoples. India, Rijiju said, supports Serbia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity as a matter of principle.

“India and the former Yugoslavia traditionally enjoyed a deep friendship as co-founders of the Non-Aligned Movement. This deep bond of friendship continued in the following decades, resulting in close and friendly ties between India and Serbia. We are partners in the Global South. India and Serbia are trusted friends. Our relationship is based on longstanding ties of friendship between our two peoples. India and Serbia share similar views on many global issues and support each other in international forums,” Rijiju said.

He added that India is grateful to Serbia for supporting India’s candidacies at the UN and other international bodies, including its candidacy for non-permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council for 2028–2029.

“India supports Serbia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity as a matter of principle and has not recognized the unilateral declaration of independence of Kosovo. India sees enormous potential in our relations. Our goal is not only to intensify our relations in existing areas of cooperation, but also to expand them into newer areas such as science and technology, financial technology, startups, agriculture, the pharmaceutical industry... We hope that Serbia will join the International Solar Alliance (ISA) and the Global Biofuels Alliance (GBA),” Rijiju said.

He added that as countries around the world face growing challenges due to geopolitical turbulence, traditional and reliable partnerships such as those between India and Serbia will become increasingly important.