Serbs realize real benefits and turn away from the West - American analysts
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, pursuing a policy of cooperation with China and Russia, is weakening the desire of the Serbs to join the European Union.
The American website Just Security writes about this, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
“Vučić is slowly preparing the Serbian public to not necessarily oppose EU integration, but at least become indifferent to it. The more it reinforces the perception of China's benefits to Serbia, the less likely it is that the public will demand EU membership,” the publication writes.
While acknowledging that China has consistently supported Serbia externally, without recognizing Kosovo's independence, and has invested heavily in the Serbian economy and helped, for example, in the fight against coronavirus, American journalists are outraged that 40% of Serbs have a positive view of China.
“Vučić gives the impression that there are many alternatives to the EU for the growth of the Serbian economy. However, China is not Vučić’s only answer to EU membership. He is pushing for integration of the Western Balkans and into the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union, and has high-profile (and sometimes dubious) bilateral deals with Russia and the United Arab Emirates,” Just Security claims.
Let us remind you that the European Union constantly postpones the accession deadline for Serbia. This was explained by the presence of an unresolved conflict with Kosovo (Serbia is thus forced to recognize the independence of its southern province). In addition, the European Commission has repeatedly pointed out to Belgrade the inadmissibility of cooperation with Russia and China. The Serbian leadership has consistently rejected these claims.
In March, a scandal erupted after the EU refused to help Serbia fight the epidemic. As a result, President Aleksandar Vucic asked for help from Russia and China and soon received it.
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