Relationship dossier
Serbia
United States
Relationship assessment
Practical cooperation persists alongside a major dispute over Kosovo.
Serbia toward United States
+10Serbia has engaged in bilateral security cooperation through its longstanding partnership with the Ohio National Guard and participated in a bilateral strategic dialogue launched in 2023. Serbian opposition to Kosovo’s independence, which the United States recognizes, remains a major source of disagreement.
United States toward Serbia
-10The United States has pursued bilateral security and diplomatic cooperation with Serbia, including the Ohio National Guard partnership and a strategic dialogue launched in 2023. U.S. participation in the 1999 NATO bombing campaign and recognition of Kosovo’s independence remain major sources of tension with Serbia.
Overall relationship
0The relationship has enduring practical channels for security and diplomatic cooperation, but the Kosovo dispute is a major structural obstacle. The 1999 NATO bombing campaign and U.S. recognition of Kosovo’s independence continue to shape Serbian policy and public debate, while bilateral cooperation has continued in other areas.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
Serbia and the United States maintain practical diplomatic, economic, and security cooperation, including a bilateral strategic dialogue and a longstanding partnership with the Ohio National Guard. Relations are also shaped by deep disagreements over Kosovo, including the 1999 NATO bombing campaign and U.S. recognition of Kosovo’s independence. The relationship combines ongoing cooperation with a major, durable political dispute.
Areas of tension
- Serbia rejects Kosovo’s independence, which the United States recognizes.
- The legacy of the 1999 NATO bombing campaign remains a source of tension.
Key developments
NATO began its bombing campaign against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia during the Kosovo conflict; the campaign remains a major source of tension in Serbia-U.S. relations.
The United States recognized Kosovo’s independence, opposed by Serbia.
Serbia and the United States launched a bilateral strategic dialogue.
Major uncertainties
- The scope and implementation of cooperation under the bilateral strategic dialogue are unclear.
- The extent to which Kosovo-related disagreements affect current security and diplomatic cooperation is uncertain.