Titolo: The U.S. sees Serbia as an important partner, the Trump administration wants a new era of relations

The administration of President Donald Trump wants a new era of relations with Serbia and the United States sees Serbia as an important partner for preserving security and peace in this region, Chargé d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade Alexander Titolo said at the opening of the Connectivity and Investment Forum organized by the Pupin Initiative.

Titolo pointed out that the moment for organizing the Forum is excellent, given that the launch of the Strategic Dialogue between Serbia and the United States is being prepared.

“The Trump administration wants a new era of relations and it is necessary to go into details of what that should look like. Serbia is in Europe, that is not just a fact on the map, but a strategic reality. Serbia’s security and economy are connected with Europe’s. The U.S. sees Serbia as an important partner for security and peace in the region,” Titolo indicated.

Recalling Serbian peacekeepers engaged in missions, joint military exercises and the 20-year-long partnership of the Serbian Armed Forces with the Ohio National Guard, Titolo said that the two countries have something that shows what relations between Serbia and the United States can look like.

“We have the opportunity to take the next step. In the coming weeks Serbia will have a joint exercise with NATO. It is important that the entire region hears the message coming from that exercise, and that is the message of strengthening security,” Titolo was clear.

According to him, the U.S. is constantly strengthening diplomacy, which is based on practical realism which, he says, should be applied to Serbia.

“We expect that Belgrade should apply the same in its relations towards the U.S. That is the Strategic Dialogue,” Titolo said.

He pointed out that the prerequisite for success is security in the region, to which the partnership with the Ohio National Guard contributes. In addition, he noted that attracting investments requires regional stability, but also a strategic approach to energy.

“This is a matter that we must approach in the Strategic Dialogue. There are numerous possibilities for Serbia to cooperate with American companies in achieving its energy goals. There are many possibilities for expanding partnership with the U.S. Our companies see numerous opportunities in Serbia. They are already here, but there is still much space. The U.S. has world-class companies that can contribute to Serbia in achieving energy goals,” Titolo said, adding that he is pleased that there will also be talks with experts in the field of nuclear energy.

“When we speak about a new era of relations, it is a partnership that brings results. We share the same vision for this region, and that is a stable, secure region, which has an economic future, which means excellent relations of all countries in the region, which we have not yet achieved. Serbia must make a choice of partners based on practical reality. We have proven that we want to be a partner in achieving Serbia’s goals,” Titolo said.

Velebit: Serbia has an opportunity to strengthen its position and be a country that connects

Serbia has something that many countries do not have – a unique geographical position that enables it to be a bridge between different parts of Europe and gives it the opportunity to position itself beyond the Western Balkans, to strengthen its position in international relations and through cooperation with allies strengthen also its position towards the United States, and that is a huge advantage, said today President of the Pupin Initiative Vuk Velebit opening the Connectivity and Investment Forum.

Velebit said that today’s Forum is not just another event where the future of relations between the United States and Serbia will be discussed, but an opportunity to use geopolitical changes and an opportunity that happens once in a generation to open a new era of relations between the United States and Serbia.

“It is not only a question whether we will use the opportunity, but also whether we might miss it. That is why today in the hall we have representatives of the American and Serbian administrations, and above all business. Business leaders, you know that the economy often goes first, before politics. Large projects that are happening – are happening as a link of economic and political relations that we have managed to build,” Velebit indicated.

He pointed out that Serbia has something that many countries do not have, a unique geographical position.

“It enables us to be a bridge, I would not say of East and West, but of different parts of Europe, where trade and logistics corridors meet. Serbia has the opportunity to position itself as a key country in the Eastern European and Eastern Mediterranean context, to thus strengthen Serbia’s position internationally, but also to strengthen the position towards the U.S. Geography in itself means nothing if you do not have a plan and do something. Today at the Forum we speak about Serbia as a country that connects. One does not become a connector by talking about it, but by making decisions, fast decisions. Serbia belongs to Europe and we must play a wider game. Central and Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean are places where decisions are made about defense, investments, energy… This is not a question of symbolism, but of positioning Serbia for the future,” Velebit said.

He pointed out that the United States is the most advanced country in the economy, a place where decisions are made.

“If we want to grow we must work with the best, if we want to be relevant we must work with those who make decisions. Serbia must now speak for itself. The time for others to speak about us has passed,” Velebit was clear.

He emphasized that by opening the Strategic Dialogue between Serbia and the United States – the door will be opened for big things.

“Today it is not a question whether Serbia has potential, we all know it has, but the question is whether we have enough ambition, discipline and courage to do what is needed. Opportunities like this do not last long. They come and go. I call on us to use that opportunity. Countries that succeed are those that act in time. I firmly believe that Serbia can be the winner in this story,” Velebit said.

General Jeffrey Watkins: Serbia is a vital link of Europe and the East

Director of the Joint Staff of the Ohio National Guard, Brigadier General Jeffrey Watkins said that Serbia is a vital link of Europe and the East, because the country has chosen not to be part of divisions, but of connectivity.

“Serbia is a vital link of Europe and the East. That is a strategic position. It is necessary to understand the role of Serbia, its multi-vector policy. Serbia has chosen not to be part of divisions, but of connectivity. It leads a policy of military neutrality and strategic autonomy, based on clear messages and relations,” Watkins said.

He noted that the two-decade partnership of Serbia with the Ohio National Guard is not symbolic, but operational and strategic, and that the relations are marked by trust and sustainability.

Watkins announced more joint exercises this year, which, as he said, are not only routine, but contribute to the training of both sides and increase the readiness of the forces of both countries.

“The joint goal is a stable, secure region. A Europe that is predictable and a competitive market. By investing in partnerships today – we invest in stability and prosperity tomorrow,” Brigadier General Jeffrey Watkins said.

Carafano: I do not think Serbia should have a defense agreement with the U.S., nor join NATO

Senior advisor of the Heritage Foundation James Carafano stated that he does not think Serbia should have a defense agreement with the United States, nor join NATO.

“You are in the middle of NATO. NATO is there to keep Russia aside. I do not think that the accession of Balkan countries to NATO brings a security benefit. NATO is today in a stronger position, with a longer border, with greater forces. What Serbia can do are things good for itself, to make the country more resilient. To be a security provider, an exporter of security. We want Serbia in the future as a country that can offer help to others,” Carafano said.

In order to become that, he added, economic growth is needed, that is, a return to the growth it had earlier.

“Economic strength is the core of stability,” Carafano was clear.

He pointed out that no power today can build and maintain the influence it had before, he is convinced, stating that President Donald Trump did much more for ensuring Europe’s energy security than Europe itself, and that Serbia has “an unprecedented opportunity so far” to strengthen its future, based on what the United States has done.

“You cannot today operationalize peace through strength, as in the time of Ronald Reagan. China today is strategically the same as two decades ago, when two great powers competed, it wants to control its part of the world. No power today can build and maintain the influence it had before,” Carafano said at the panel “Strategic context – a view from Washington on geopolitics, energy and global connectivity” within the Forum.

Carafano said that the United States has the largest military expenditures, but cannot sustainably dominate alone in the long term.

“We are a global power, with global responsibility. But global connectivity is needed to succeed in that. All actions taken by the U.S. president are for the sake of connectivity. We do not have the resources to be the world’s policeman, but we have them to encourage global connectivity. We do not have the resources to be the world’s policeman, but we have them to encourage global connectivity,” Carafano said.

He added that the U.S. president in both situations – regarding Ukraine and Iran – is trying to bring stability to the region.

“The U.S. has only two goals, unchangeable. We want a peaceful and independent Ukraine, which can defend itself. The reality today is that Ukraine is in the strongest position since the beginning of the war. Second, Iran has for decades been the main instigator of instability. The result of U.S. actions is to increase global connectivity. We see that already today as consequences of the war in Iran, but we also see it in Europe,” Carafano said.

According to him, Trump did much more to ensure Europe’s energy security than Europe itself did.

Therefore, he emphasizes, Serbia is a country that has an unprecedented opportunity so far to strengthen its future, based on what the United States has done.

He also said that Israel is an “exemplary ally” of the United States and that without that partnership, Israeli strategic autonomy would look much different, but also American in the Middle East.

“Cooperation with the U.S. would increase Serbia’s strategic autonomy,” Carafano believes.

Arha: Trump wants economic cooperation without obstacles, as well as an open Balkans that is impossible without Serbia

President of the Free and Open Indo-Pacific Forum Kaush Arha pointed out that Donald Trump wants economic cooperation, without historical obstacles, which is why he also wants an open and free Balkans, which, he notes, is impossible without Serbia, which is the heart of the region, geographically and economically.

“Connecting with neighbors is important for Serbia, just as the United States wants connectivity with its partners,” Arha said.

He noted that through economic cooperation one becomes a pillar of stability.

“You should become the champion of the ‘Open Balkans’. I think your president has a historic approach to that, economic cooperation without borders. By that you become a pillar of security,” Arha underlined.

He stated that Trump is a “historic president who will change the world.”

“He changes history in a way to be more realistic and less rhetorical. He brought realism into foreign policy and bilateral relations. He is dramatically changing the world, both in our neighborhood and beyond. It is important that the United States takes care of its own national interests, which every country should do. Trump especially values patriotism and competitiveness. He wants Americans to be proud of their history, just as Serbia should. There are few countries that are more patriotic than Serbia,” Arha said.

When asked about Serbia’s commitment to cooperate with everyone, he replied that he has nothing against the free choice of partners.

He is convinced, however, that Russia is not capable of defeating Ukraine.

He also pointed to the decline of investments from China, which, as he says, always thought to open the door to the EU through Serbia. He claims that no country in the world has benefited from cooperation with China.

As for the EU, Arha said that the war in Iran was a “blessing for Europe”, because it showed the fragility of European energy policy, so people recognized that diversification of energy sources is needed.

Brigadier General Jeffrey Watkins, when asked about threats, stated that the threat from drones has become greater, which is why investments in defense are necessary.

He added that efforts must also be invested in reducing threats to energy security.

“The partnership of the Ohio National Guard and Serbia is aimed at responding to the threats of the future. That partnership provides the opportunity to discuss it and find ways for the best dealing with all threats,” Watkins said.