Vucic: We are heading toward further confrontation in the West

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said, following the speech delivered by U.S. President Donald Trump at the World Economic Forum in Davos, that his conclusion is that we are moving toward further opposition and confrontation between Europe and the United States.

“From that perspective, I was surprised yesterday by the quality of the speech delivered by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen,” Vucic told journalists.

He said that, substantively speaking, von der Leyen yesterday laid out a new ideological and political platform.

“It is the most significant speech I have heard, and I have read or listened to 90 percent of the speeches of significant figures of all time. Her speech was among the best structured,” Vucic explained.

He added that he would not say the same about Trump.

“He is very intelligent, charming, and has understood that the debt problem is corrected through the growth rate. But von der Leyen’s speech was far more strategically oriented than his. I know that a large part of Serbia’s citizens will irrationally rejoice at his remarks regarding Greenland and other topics. I do not wish to comment on his speech at this moment,” Vucic emphasized.

He said the question now is whether Europe will be able to adopt what von der Leyen spoke about or not.

“I think that speech is something that should be studied, but I am not sure that Europe will be able to push it through,” he stressed.

Vucic recalled that von der Leyen said that after a year, illusions that relations between the U.S. and Europe could be changed had come to an end, and that Europe must now be independent, having been forced into that position by the United States.

“I am not sure whether Europe will have the strength. The ideas that have been put forward and the postulates that have been established are high goals, not easily achievable, but something that will represent history in the future and will be discussed,” he said.

He also said that he met with European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos, stressing that it was a successful meeting, substantive and content-rich.

“I believe that in the coming period we can correct some of our mistakes. When we take on obligations, we must fulfill them. This concerns the passage of laws as well as consultations with the EU. We also have our own demands, but I do not wish to speak about that now,” he pointed out.

Vucic said he also met with Swiss President Guy Parmelin, who will visit Serbia in April.

“That will be an important visit,” he announced.

“I spoke with him about the presence of Swiss companies in Serbia. For the first time, trade exchange has exceeded one billion euros, and we rank well among Switzerland’s largest partners in the Balkans. Including services, exchange exceeds two billion euros,” he emphasized.

He said he also spoke with Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis, a friend of Serbia, who told him that his country will participate in Expo 2027, which will allow Serbia to break all records.

“We discussed economic cooperation, which is growing, and an intergovernmental agreement that would raise the Czech Republic to a higher pedestal in Serbia, and Serbia in the Czech Republic as well. We have several significant investors from the Czech Republic,” he explained.

He noted that he also met with the head of the EBRD, Odile Renaud-Basso, with whom he discussed energy issues.

“That is primarily why you come—to talk about the economy and develop the energy sector, with which I am not satisfied, and I believe we can do more. We have faced countless sudden problems, such as NIS,” he said.

Vucic added that a contract has been signed with the company Archer and that Serbia will have vertical takeoff and landing aircraft.

“For the first time on European soil, they will be presented in 2027 in Serbia. We believe that citizens will be proud of their country. They will have pilots, because we have not yet developed all segments of the 5G network. People will see what this looks like in America and China. Serbia will lead in this area,” Vucic stressed.

Asked whether Europe is in trouble following Donald Trump’s remarks, Vucic replied that everyone is in a different situation, but that everything certainly depends on what is happening globally.

“All of us depend on Serbia’s economy. We have just under 100,000 people working in the automotive industry, the spare parts industry, and everything related to it. Now imagine tariffs of 10 plus 25 percent from June 1—there would be no more European automotive industry on the American continent. Who do you think they will lay off? Our workers. And we will be in serious trouble. That is why we must take care of the consequences and how to preserve the country,” Vucic said.

He warned that problems are yet to come.

Recalling that a European Council session will be held tomorrow, he said further complications are to be expected.

“We will see how it goes; everyone is improvising, finding some other solutions,” Vucic said, announcing an extraordinary session of the Serbian Government over the weekend to discuss the tasks facing the country.

“We must also talk to political opponents, to find the safest and most secure place for Serbia,” Vucic added.

Commenting on the fact that the European Parliament voted to refer the EU–Mercosur free trade agreement to the EU’s highest court, Vucic said that this is only the beginning.

“I understand the difficulty of Ursula von der Leyen’s position, and everyone will speak against her… Her position is not easy, but if this is implemented, it will change the world. We will see tomorrow; there will be many challenges, and a great deal of seriousness and responsibility will be required to preserve the country,” Vucic said.

Responding to journalists’ questions regarding criticism from certain opposition politicians, Vucic noted that one of the questions raised in Davos was whether Ukraine would become an EU member in 2027, which would also affect Serbia’s fate, but that some understand nothing because they “talk to third-rate politicians” from Europe.

“The question is whether Ukraine will become a full member of the EU on January 1, 2027. There will be significant pressure around that, as well as resistance from certain countries, but that, in a way, also determines our fate. But some understand nothing because they talk to third-rate politicians. And I regret that Serbia does not have better politicians and that there are no people, apart from those currently in power, who care about it,” Vucic added.

U.S. President Donald Trump said today from the World Economic Forum in Davos that he respects the people of Denmark and the people of Greenland, but that only the United States can protect that territory, that “piece of ice,” in order to ensure security.

Stating that the territory is located in a key strategic position, he called for the immediate start of negotiations on the purchase of Greenland and announced that the United States would not seize it by force.

Vucic also met today in Davos, among others, with European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos, with whom he discussed Serbia–EU relations.

That was followed by meetings with the President of the Swiss Confederation Guy Parmelin and the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic Andrej Babis.