New US doctrine stirs up Belgrade: Why is Vučić worried?

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić called an emergency session of the National Security Council on January 4, ordering state security and diplomatic services to analyze the new United States National Security Strategy, published in December 2025.

According to sources familiar with the discussions, the directive includes the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Security and Information Agency (BIA) as well as the Military Intelligence Agency (VOA), which are tasked with preparing rapid assessments on the impact of this doctrine in Serbia and the Western Balkans.

The move comes at a time of growing concerns in Belgrade that Washington's strategic priorities are shifting, calling into question the level of American engagement in Europe and the region.

The new American strategy

The National Security Strategy, announced by the second administration of US President Donald Trump, marks a marked shift towards an "America First" approach, focusing on economic interests, strategic dominance and the concept of "peace through strength".

The document reduces emphasis on democracy promotion and multilateralism, while criticizing European allies for low defense spending and structural weaknesses. It also signals a redirection of American attention to the Western Hemisphere.

A senior Serbian official, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated that "the permanent US commitment to Europe can no longer be taken for granted."

The urgency of the Security Council's call is also related to recent developments in Venezuela, where the US undertook a rapid military operation that led to the overthrow of President Nicolás Maduro on January 3.

Commenting on this development, Vučić stated that the Venezuelan case is evidence that the international legal order is weakening. "It has become clear that the international order is no longer functioning as before. Force is taking precedence over law," he said.

Within the Council, the American operation was seen as a precedent showing that great powers can act outside the traditional UN framework when their strategic interests are at stake.

Consequences for the Balkans and Kosovo

Analysts believe that Serbia's review of the new US doctrine aims to understand whether the Western Balkans is losing priority in US foreign policy. A more selective American engagement could create room for instability in the region, especially in relation to unresolved issues.

In this context, Kosovo remains a key element in the strategic calculations, although this is not publicly articulated by Belgrade. Diplomatic sources say that Serbia is aiming to maintain strategic flexibility, balancing the path towards the European Union with relations with Russia and China.

Serbian authorities stress that this process does not represent a departure from cooperation with the West, but a planning measure in the conditions of global uncertainty. Vučić has also warned of an increase in military capabilities and personnel, in what he describes as a period of international unrest.

According to observers, the recent developments are also a signal for Kosovo, in an increasingly transactional environment of international relations. Experts assess that Pristina should continuously strengthen strategic communication and partnership with the US and key European countries, to avoid any ambiguity about Western engagement in the region.

In a reality where global attention is fragmenting, an active and clear diplomatic presence remains essential for maintaining stability and sovereignty, writes kosovodispatch, TheGeoPost reports.