U.S. President Donald Trump said the United States has “very good relations with Serbia,” responding to a question about bilateral cooperation and the U.S.-Serbia Strategic Dialogue.
Trump made the brief comment while speaking to reporters outside the White House on Monday, according to reports citing USA Today.
“We have very good relations with Serbia,” Trump said when asked about cooperation between Washington and Belgrade.
Trump Comments on U.S.-Serbia Relations
Trump’s remarks come as Washington and Belgrade continue efforts to develop their bilateral relationship through the U.S.-Serbia Strategic Dialogue.
The framework is intended to provide a structured channel for discussions between the two governments on areas of mutual interest. Previous U.S. statements on the proposed dialogue identified trade, energy, defense cooperation, rule of law and fundamental freedoms among key areas for engagement.
The U.S. has also identified economic cooperation, regional stability and security as important elements of its relationship with Serbia.
Strategic Dialogue Provides Framework for Cooperation
Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Đurić and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio opened the first round of the U.S.-Serbia Strategic Dialogue in Washington in July, establishing an institutional framework for further cooperation between the two countries.
Plans to establish the dialogue had been publicly discussed earlier, with U.S. officials describing it as a mechanism for regular engagement on issues where Washington and Belgrade cooperate, as well as a channel for addressing areas of disagreement.
Trump’s latest statement places renewed attention on U.S.-Serbia relations as the two governments continue engagement through that framework.
