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2024

Serbia's Path to the West: Strengthening US-Serbia Relations in a Changing World

Executive Summary

The world is changing, and we cannot rely on narratives from 30 years ago. The Pupin Initiative is a trusted partner in Serbian-American relations, committed to presenting the facts and seeking real opportunities to strengthen the bonds between the United States and Serbia.

We are proud to have earned the respect of many in both countries without any taxpayer funding and believe that Serbia can position itself as a credible partner to the US in the Western Balkans.

At the recent Pupin Forum in Washington, we gathered over 100 key decision-makers from American political and business circles, including Sasha Kasanof, the new Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Western Balkans, Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Đurić, and members of Congress from both sides of the aisle. This Forum demonstrated that positive dialogue on Serbia's future role with the West is both possible and essential.

Historic Conference on Serbian-American Relations in DC

  • History in the Making: Pupin Initiative has written a new chapter in the history of Serbian-American relations at the Pupin Forum in Washington! Over 100 distinguished guests from American political and social life, including representatives from the business community, gathered in Washington for the first conference on Serbian-American relations in recent history.


  • Distinguished Speakers: Among those present were key decision-makers, and for the first time, the public was introduced to Sasha Kasanof, the new Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for the Western Balkans. Pupin Initiative also hosted Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Đurić, Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA), and Zev Siegfeld on behalf of Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-NY), Geoffrey Pyatt, the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Resources, and more.


  • Politico on Pupin Forum and Serbia: Pupin Forum has been covered by Politico as a part of its National Security Daily briefing. According to Politico, “A bipartisan group on Capitol Hill is making the case that the US should deepen its security and diplomatic ties with Serbia as both Russia and China vie for more influence in the Balkans region on the EU and NATO’s doorstep.”

First Public Appearance of Deputy Assistant Secretary for Western Balkans

  • One-on-One Conversation with DAS Kasanof: The inaugural Pupin Forum in Washington, DC, began with a one-on-one conversation between the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Alexander Sasha Kasanof, and the Pupin Initiative’s Executive Director, Vuk Velebit. In his first public appearance since becoming the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Alexander Kasanof has commended the Pupin Initiative on its work on strengthening the US-Serbia relations.


  • Serbia’s Potential: According to DAS Kasanof, Serbia has shown great economic potential and real movement along the value chain, which is showcased by the energy cooperation agreement signed on the same day the Pupin Forum happened. In Kasanof’s words, the agreement is a milestone in Serbian-American relations and a great step forward in support of Serbia.

Building a Strong Partnership and Overcoming Issues

  • Rep. Swalwell: Serbia Can Be a Strong Partner: Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) spoke on the second panel alongside Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Đurić and Zev Siegfeld, aide to Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-NY). Rep. Swalwell praised Serbia for its support of Ukraine and highlighted that Serbia can be a strong partner with the U.S. on national security, tech, and energy. Swalwell also said that “having stability in the region and having a great partner in the region is so important for us as we look at threats worldwide.”


  • Support for Ukraine: Swalwell noted that Serbia has been with the US on every vote at the UN with respect to Ukraine, refugees, and humanitarian aid, which isn't credited enough considering Serbia's “tough neighbourhood”.


  • Moving Past Old Narratives: Minister Đurić has stated his commitment and focus on modernizing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and revitalizing the Serbian diplomatic network. In Đurić's opinion, the central issues surrounding Serbian-American relations are the lack of attention on the Western Balkans due to pressing issues elsewhere and sentiments from the 1990s. According to Đurić, Serbia wants a strategic dialogue and partnership with the United States. Zev Siegfeld also expressed the need to spread the story that Serbia and its relations have moved past the ‘90s.

Uncovering the Potential of the U.S.-Serbia Energy Partnership

  • Accelerating Serbia’s Green Transition: Geoffrey R. Pyatt, Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Resources, stated that the rapid impacts of global warming necessitate more American investments in Serbia, with the aim of accelerating Serbia’s green transition, developing the solar energy sector, and conducting a mutually beneficial partnership in lithium extraction while following the highest sustainability standards. Assistant Secretary Pyatt also emphasized that the decision to mine lithium needs to be made exclusively by the Serbian people and their government.


  • Serbia’s Place in Global Value Chains: Nemanja Mikać, the CEO of ElevenEs, a Serbian battery manufacturer, has stated that the e-mobility value chain can bring Serbia's GDP around 12 billion dollars. Mikać also touched on the global race in the sector, where the U.S. is catching up to China, while Europe is lagging behind. However, as the third panelist, Eurasia Group’s Dominic Chiu stated, Serbia is in a great place to be a valuable partner in tough geopolitical circumstances and profit from the e-mobility value chain and green transition.