Vučić defies the west, openly aligns with Maduro even after his arrest

“Great friend” — this is how Serbian officials until recently described the now-ousted Venezuelan leader, Nicolás Maduro.

They assessed his overthrow in a U.S. operation as the “rule of force” and the “law of the stronger.”

“This assessment was not the same when, in 2022, Russia launched the war in Ukraine,” Jelica Minić from the non-governmental European Movement in Serbia told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL).

Official Belgrade supported Ukraine’s territorial integrity but did not join Western sanctions against Russia and continued to maintain ties with Moscow.

Serbia strengthened relations with Venezuela and its authoritarian regime at a time when the country, closely aligned with Russia, was under sanctions from the European Union and the United States.

Maduro was arrested together with his wife on January 3 in a U.S. operation in Venezuela and transferred to New York, where they are to face charges related to drug trafficking.

One day after the operation, Vučić said that the old world order was collapsing and that no rules applied anymore, arguing that the rule of force prevails and that “whoever is stronger, oppresses.”

He added that even harsher words were avoided, as he put it, in order not to damage relations with the United States.

According to Jelica Minić of the European Movement, the Serbian president’s assessments are partly the result of interests in bilateral relations “as he sees them.”

“And partly a fear that Serbia is giving enough reasons on the international stage that could be exploited for some new intervention, of one kind or another, against his regime,” she added.

On January 5, Vučić stated that he understands the national interests of the United States and that he has the utmost respect for both President Donald Trump and the U.S., but that Serbia has no alternative other than respecting international law.

Most Western Balkan countries supported the U.S. operation, stating that it involved a narco-criminal regime and that Maduro is a dictator who did not come to power through free and fair elections.

By the time this article was published, the U.S. State Department had not responded to RFE/RL’s inquiry regarding the Serbian president’s reaction to Maduro’s overthrow.

The U.S. operation was condemned by Iran, Russia, and other allies of the South American country, while UN Secretary-General António Guterres said the U.S. military action represented a “dangerous precedent.”

Many of Washington’s allies, although declaring they have no sympathy for Maduro or his regime, warned of the need to respect international law.

Maduro’s overthrow was welcomed by Venezuelans living in exile.

Friendship Because of Kosovo

In recent years, Serbian officials have stated that Serbia and Venezuela are “true friends.”

This friendship stemmed from Venezuela’s refusal to recognize Kosovo’s independence.

As part of strengthening ties, Serbia and Venezuela signed a visa-free travel agreement in mid-2023.

Commenting on the Serbian president’s reaction, Jelica Minić assessed that “Maduro was considered a ‘friend’ and ally because of the closeness of the regimes.”

According to assessments by international organizations, Serbia is a country with a damaged democracy, where civil liberties are undermined and pressure is exerted on independent media.

Serbia’s Stance on Maduro’s Legitimacy

Despite EU sanctions — some of which Serbia itself has supported — Serbia has not questioned Maduro’s legitimacy.

At the same time, it supported an EU political declaration questioning the July 28, 2024 electoral process and stating that Maduro lacks the legitimacy of a democratically elected president, while also sending its representative to his inauguration.

Parliament Speaker Ana Brnabić attended Maduro’s inauguration in Caracas in January 2025, where he began his third six-year term.

Brnabić said at the time that Venezuela, as a “great friend of Serbia,” helps ensure that the position on the inviolability of borders is shared by a large number of Latin American and Caribbean countries.

Among other things, Belgrade counts on this group of countries in its fight against the recognition of Kosovo’s independence.

Serbia’s president, Aleksandar Vučić, also emphasized Venezuela’s non-recognition of Kosovo after a phone call with Maduro in August 2025.

At that time, he called Maduro a great friend of Serbia, expressing confidence that in the years to come they would continue to nurture this “valuable friendship.”

In June 2025, Venezuela’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Europe and North America, Andrea Gabriela Korao Faria, arrived in Belgrade.

She participated in the first meeting on planning international participation in the Specialized Expo, to be held in Belgrade in 2027.

Sanctions Against Venezuela

While Serbia, as an EU candidate country, was strengthening relations with Venezuela, Brussels was imposing sanctions on the regime there.

The sanctions were introduced at the end of 2017 and later expanded.

On December 15, the European Council extended existing restrictive measures for another year in light of the situation in Venezuela.

According to unofficial information obtained by RFE/RL, Serbia, as an EU candidate country, aligned itself with this decision.

The decision was taken in view of continued actions undermining democracy and the rule of law, as well as ongoing human rights violations and repression of civil society and the democratic opposition.

This, as announced, also includes events following the presidential elections of July 28, 2024.

Serbia has aligned with some EU sanctions decisions against Venezuela, while not with others.

Broad U.S. sanctions are also in force, focused, among other things, on individuals linked to Nicolás Maduro’s regime, as well as on Venezuela’s oil sector.

A Turn by Serbia Toward the U.S.?

Criticism of the U.S. operation has also been spread by pro-government tabloids in Serbia.

After supporting Trump — reflected even in billboards reading “Trump, a Serb” — they now write about the “collapse of all laws and logic.”

Asked whether the Serbian president’s assessments could affect relations with the U.S., Jelica Minić from the European Movement emphasized that serious problems already exist.

“Serbia already has a special place in the U.S. National Security Strategy of December 2025, where an executive act foresees further policy toward our region,” she said.

The National Defense Authorization Act, recently signed by Trump, also mentions Western Balkan countries and the need for their Euro-Atlantic integration and the reduction of energy dependence on Russia.

The law also expresses concern over the state of democracy in Serbia and states that Serbia and Kosovo should aim for immediate progress in implementing the agreement on normalization of relations.

It further emphasizes that the U.S. should continue to support the achievement of a comprehensive final agreement between Kosovo and Serbia, based on mutual recognition.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić has recently acknowledged that instead of the major progress expected from the Trump administration, decisions have been made that are not in Serbia’s interest.