Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić says relations between Serbia and the United States have undergone a dramatic transformation under President Donald Trump, a shift he says has changed public perceptions in a country where memories of the 1999 NATO bombing campaign remain deeply rooted.

In an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital, Vučić praised Trump’s approach to the Balkans, arguing that the administration’s focus on economic cooperation rather than political pressure resonated with many Serbs. «President Trump and his team so far were working very diligently and dedicatedly on the Western Balkans,» Vučić said, adding that many Serbs view his administration very differently from previous U.S. governments.

«If you ask people in Serbia just to make a comparison between Clinton and Trump’s administration, or Democrats to Republicans, you wouldn’t believe it,» Vučić said. «It would be 90 to 10 or 95 to 5.»

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The comparison is particularly striking in Serbia, where many still associate the United States with NATO’s 1999 bombing campaign during the Kosovo conflict, launched to stop Serbian forces’ crackdown on ethnic Albanians in Kosovo and which remains one of the most consequential events in modern Serbian history.

Vučić said he recently extended an invitation to Trump to visit Serbia and predicted the American president would receive an enthusiastic welcome.

«I hope that we’ll be able to host him,» Vučić said. «More people will be ready to greet him and wait for him than he might even expect…I dare to say even more than hundreds of thousands of people.»

The Serbian president said the improving relationship between Washington and Belgrade is increasingly centered on economics, investment and technological cooperation, and mutual conservative values.

According to Vučić, Serbia and the United States are preparing to launch a strategic dialogue that will focus on energy, infrastructure, artificial intelligence, defense cooperation and investment opportunities. Among the projects under discussion are energy infrastructure, liquefied natural gas cooperation, data centers and advanced computing technologies.

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U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vučić and Kosovo’s Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti at the White House in Washington, U.S., Sep. 4, 2020. (Leah Millis/Reuters)

The growing relationship comes as Serbia seeks to position itself as a regional economic hub while continuing its long-standing ambition of joining the European Union.

Vučić pointed to preparations for Expo 2027 in Belgrade with nearly 150 participating countries, as evidence of Serbia’s growing international profile and economic ambitions.

Vučić, who has served as Serbia’s dominant political figure since becoming prime minister in 2014 and president in 2017, pointed to the country’s economic growth as evidence of its transformation. «Our GDP was 32 billion (euros) when I became the prime minister,» Vučić said. «This year it’s going to be over 100 billion euros., which is $120 billion.»

President Donald Trump and the President of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić ( Credit: Al Drago for The Washington Post via Getty Images ; Mehmet Ali Ozcan/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Vučić’s relationship with Trump dates back to the president’s first term, when the White House brokered a series of economic normalization agreements between Serbia and Kosovo. Rather than focusing first on the politically explosive question of Kosovo’s status, the Trump administration emphasized infrastructure projects, transportation links and investment aimed at improving ties between the two sides.

In September 2020, Vučić and then-Kosovo Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti signed U.S.-brokered economic agreements at the White House that included commitments to expand rail and highway connections and promote investment. Trump described the deal as a breakthrough achieved by focusing on «job creation and economic growth» rather than longstanding political disputes.

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Serbian poster supporting Donald Trump near a portrait of the Serbian former Prime Minister and now president, Aleksandar Vučić in Mitrovica, Kosovo.  (Getty Images)

Asked whether he would consider recognizing Kosovo, which declared independence from Serbia in 2008 and has been recognized by the United States under President George W. Bush and most European countries, if doing so unlocked Serbia’s economic future and accelerated its path toward membership in the European Union, Vučić pushed back on the premise, arguing that economic cooperation and improved relations should come before discussions about political status.

«I’m not saying that I’m ready to violate my constitution… I have always been open to talks or compromising solutions, I have always been open to developing great economic ties and no doubt much better political ties. But I was not speaking about recognition of someone’s independence,» he said.

While Serbia continues to pursue membership in the European Union, the country has also maintained ties with Russia and China, a balancing act that has drawn scrutiny amid Russia’s war in Ukraine and growing geopolitical tensions worldwide.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio shakes hands with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić as they meet on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York City, U.S., September 23, 2025. (Charly Triballeau/Pool via Reuters)

Asked whether Serbia could continue navigating between East and West in an increasingly divided world or would eventually need to choose a side, Vučić rejected the notion that countries must choose between competing geopolitical camps. Instead, he pointed to both his own visit to China and Trump’s engagement with Beijing as examples of what he described as pragmatic diplomacy focused on national interests.

«President Trump didn’t go there because of his vanity,» Vučić said of Trump’s visit to China. «He brought with him all the leading people of the United States of America for making better businesses, for earning more money for their companies.»

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BELGRADE, SERBIA – FEBRUARY 03:  Aleksandar Vučić (L) President of Serbia talks with tennis player Novak Djokovic (R) of Serbia after their meeting  on February 3, 2022 in Belgrade, Serbia.  (Photo by Srdjan Stevanovic/Getty Images)

Vučić said he adopted a similar approach during his own visit, arguing that leaders should prioritize economic opportunities for their citizens rather than ideological alignments. «I’m coming from a small country. I was asking for more investments and was fighting for the interests of my people,» he said.

The Serbian president said the same pragmatic approach should guide efforts to resolve ongoing conflicts in both Ukraine and the Middle East.

«It’s always better to have thousands of days of negotiations than one day of war,» he said.

Asked about tensions involving Iran and the wider conflict in the Middle East, Vučić reiterated Serbia’s support for Israel, a position that increasingly distinguishes Belgrade from some European governments.

«I am the president of the country that is one of the very rare countries in Europe that is not hesitating to cooperate and collaborate with Israel,» he said. «And it is proud to say this publicly and openly.»

Vučić warned about what he described as rising antisemitism around the world.

«From time to time, I’m very much afraid to see a lot of antisemitic slogans and antisemitic banners,» he said.

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Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić (R) and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L) meet at the Presidential residence ahead of the World Holocaust Forum on January 22, 2020 in Jerusalem. (PhKobi Gideon / GPO / Handout/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

«The Serbian president said Serbia has resisted those trends and pledged that it would continue to do so under his leadership.»

«It does not happen in Serbia, and it won’t happen as long as I’m the president.»

La tensión en Medio Oriente volvió a escalar a niveles críticos. En la madrugada del miércoles, Irán lanzó una serie de misiles y drones contra las bases de Estados Unidos en Bahréin, Kuwait y Jordania, en respuesta directa a los bombardeos estadounidenses sobre territorio iraní.

El Cuerpo de la Guardia Revolucionaria Islámica (CGRI) confirmó los ataques y advirtió que podrían intensificarse si continúan las agresiones.

El conflicto se desató luego de que Washington ordenara ataques en el estrecho de Ormuz, tras el derribo de un helicóptero Apache estadounidense cerca de esa zona estratégica.

El Mando Central del Ejército de Estados Unidos (CENTCOM) sostuvo que la ofensiva fue “una respuesta proporcional a la agresión iraní injustificada”.

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Según la Guardia Revolucionaria iraní, uno de los principales blancos fue una base estadounidense en Baréin.

En un comunicado, los Guardianes afirmaron: “Estados Unidos atacó esta madrugada varios puntos en Jask, Sirik y Qeshm bajo falsos pretextos, y dañó una torre de telecomunicaciones en Sirik y destruyó dos tanques de agua en la ciudad”.

“Desafortunadamente, tras este ataque, 20.000 habitantes de la región se han quedado sin agua potable, y con temperaturas que oscilan entre 45 y 50° C, las condiciones son extremadamente difíciles”, declaró un responsable de la empresa local de agua, según la televisión estatal.

Además, la Guardia Revolucionaria aseguró que “en respuesta a la cruel acción del enemigo, los combatientes navales de los Guardianes lanzaron un ataque con drones contra la 5ª Flota de Baréin a las 02:30 (23:00 GMT del martes)”. El mensaje fue claro: si las agresiones continúan, las respuestas serán “más contundentes”.

El CGRI también anunció un ataque contra una base estadounidense en Jordania. Según medios estatales iraníes, las fuerzas atacaron y destruyeron “cuatro objetivos importantes, entre ellos grupos de cazas F35 en una base aérea y el centro de mando militar estadounidense” de Azraq.

En Kuwait, las Fuerzas Armadas informaron que sus sistemas de defensa aérea interceptaron “objetivos aéreos hostiles” en medio del intercambio de ataques.

“El Estado Mayor del Ejército anuncia que los sistemas de defensa aérea kuwaitíes están enfrentando actualmente objetivos aéreos hostiles de acuerdo con los procedimientos operativos establecidos”, comunicó el Ejército en X, sin precisar el origen de las amenazas.

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La escalada se produjo después de que el presidente estadounidense, Donald Trump, responsabilizara a Teherán por la destrucción del helicóptero militar y ordenara bombardeos contra objetivos iraníes.

Trump había anunciado en redes sociales que Irán derribó la aeronave durante un patrullaje sobre el estrecho de Ormuz y advirtió: “Estados Unidos debe, por necesidad, responder a este ataque”. Según el mandatario, ambos tripulantes del helicóptero resultaron ilesos.

La respuesta iraní no tardó en llegar. El ministro de Exteriores, Abbas Araqchi, lanzó una advertencia directa a Washington: “Abandonen nuestra región, si desean estar a salvo”.

Además, remarcó que las fuerzas armadas iraníes “no dejarán sin respuesta ningún ataque ni amenaza” y recordó que “la historia del golfo Pérsico cuenta con numerosos capítulos sobre el terrible destino que han corrido los intrusos extranjeros”.

Araqchi también apuntó contra la estrategia estadounidense: “A pesar de sus derrotas en el campo de batalla, Estados Unidos decidió poner a prueba nuestra determinación”.

La cancillería iraní afirmó además que los ataques dañaron los esfuerzos diplomáticos internacionales para negociar una salida al conflicto.

“Lamentablemente, Estados Unidos está dañando este proceso diplomático con los mensajes contradictorios que está enviando, con sus reiterados giros de posición y de demandas y, lo peor de todo, con sus repetidas violaciones del alto el fuego” en vigor desde el 8 de abril, dijo en un video publicado por medios locales el portavoz del ministerio de Exteriores, Esmail Baqai.

“Cualquier proceso diplomático se ve dañado por el uso de la fuerza y el recurso a acciones ilegales sobre el terreno”, enfatizó

Un conflicto que sacude la economía mundial y amenaza la tregua regional

La nueva escalada de violencia puso en jaque una tregua de dos meses que ya venía debilitada. El día anterior, Irán e Israel intercambiaron fuego por primera vez desde el frágil alto el fuego de abril. La televisión estatal iraní informó que los ataques israelíes del lunes mataron al menos a dos integrantes de las unidades de defensa aérea iraníes.

Desde que Estados Unidos e Israel iniciaron operaciones contra Irán el 28 de febrero, el conflicto impactó de lleno en la economía global: subieron los precios de la energía y se encarecieron productos básicos, incluidos los alimentos.

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Las negociaciones para transformar el alto el fuego en un acuerdo permanente no avanzaron, en parte porque Israel intensificó su campaña militar en el Líbano contra Hezbollah, la milicia respaldada por Teherán.

La región se encuentra en máxima alerta y el mundo sigue de cerca cada movimiento, ante el riesgo de que la escalada derive en un enfrentamiento aún mayor.

As she runs for a sixth six-year term in the U.S. Senate in left-leaning Maine, Republican Sen. Susan Collins is now officially her party’s nominee in a crucial race that’s one of a handful across the country that will determine whether Republicans keep control of their slim Senate majority.

Collins can toss the «presumptive nominee» title after formally landing her party’s nomination on Tuesday by running unopposed in Maine’s Senate GOP primary.

As she fights for re-election, the 73-year-old Collins is once again a top target for Democrats as they aim to win back the Senate majority in this year’s midterms.

«I have been the No. 1 target of Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, not only in this campaign, but the last two campaigns as well. I’m always his No. 1 target,» Collins said in a recent Fox News Digital interview.

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Facing Collins will be military veteran and oyster farmer Graham Platner, the all-but-certain Democratic nominee after two-term Gov. Janet Mills, who was backed by Schumer and the Democratic Party establishment, dropped out of the race earlier this spring after significantly trailing Platner in fundraising and polling.

While Collins has focused on her Senate agenda, and on Friday she received bipartisan praise after reaching a milestone by casting her 10,000th consecutive Senate vote, Platner has been playing defense amid multiple controversies, ranging from inflammatory online comments made on Reddit, a well-publicized and now covered-up tattoo on his chest that resembled a Nazi symbol, to new allegations last week from ex-girlfriends of a history of rape fantasies, heavy drinking and violent episodes.

Platner, who has acknowledged his battle with post-traumatic stress disorder from his four tours of duty in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, has said he’s «been open about what was a very dark period of my life where I struggled with undiagnosed PTSD, too often self-medicated with alcohol, and was a far from perfect boyfriend.»

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Graham Platner, the Democrats’ presumptive Senate nominee in Maine, holds an energy event in Ellsworth, Maine, on Monday, May 11, 2026. (Paul Steinhauser/Fox News)

«I take responsibility for all of that, and wish I had been better. Any characterization beyond that is false, and I believe, politically motivated,» Platner added. «I’m not proud of who I was then, but I am proud of the work I’ve done since, and the movement we are building in Maine.»

The candidate apologized for his controversial Reddit posts after they made headlines last fall soon after he launched his Senate campaign. Platner has said he got the skull and crossbones tattoo in 2007 while drinking with fellow Marines stationed in Croatia. He said that he covered up the tattoo with a new design after learning last year that it resembled a Nazi symbol. But new allegations raise questions about Platner’s timeline regarding knowledge of the tattoo.

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Platner, who is supported by progressive champions Sens. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, and Rep. Ro Khanna of California, is pushing an economically populist agenda as he takes aim at corporate influences and advocates for the working class.

Asked if Platner is too far to the left for voters in her northern New England state, Collins recently told Fox News Digital, «I believe that will be the conclusion of Maine voters. But, obviously, I don’t take anything for granted.»

Collins said that when it comes to her Democratic challenger’s growing political baggage, «Obviously, I’m going to be contrasting my record of achievement and accomplishments with Graham Platner’s approach.»

An outside political group aligned with the senator has already been blasting Platner, running ads spotlighting his multiple controversies.

Platner, who is running as an outsider, emphasizes that Collins is part of a «broken Washington» and «a generation of politicians who have failed us.»

He has described Collins’ moderate Republican image as a «charade,» highlights her support for some of President Donald Trump’s agenda and accuses her of being part of a political system that benefits the wealthy. 

«She and Republican politicians like her have prioritized the interests of billionaires and corporations over people,» he has charged.

Sen. Bernie Sanders and Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner stand together during a «Fighting Oligarchy» tour stop at the Collins Center for the Arts on the University of Maine campus in Orono, Maine, on May 24, 2026. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Republicans — as the party currently in power in Washington, D.C. — were already up against traditional political headwinds that typically lead to a loss of congressional seats. Add to that the challenging climate fueled by persistent inflation, rising gas prices tied to what polls show is an unpopular war with Iran and Trump’s underwater approval ratings.

Asked how she can overcome the blame pointed at Republicans over the high cost of living, Collins recently told Fox News Digital she’s championed the low-income heating assistance program, which «helps low-income families and seniors stay warm during the cold winter months. I just recently made sure the final tranche of money was released because there is a lot of need in the state of Maine, and the cost of living is high here.»

Collins also emphasized her opposition to cuts «in food stamp benefits and in other programs that are designed for low-income families because I know how important they are.»

The latest public opinion polls point to a competitive contest between Collins and Platner.

But Collins has a history of defeating the Democrats’ efforts to oust her from the Senate.

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Six years ago, she trailed Democratic challenger Sara Gideon, the then-Maine House speaker, but the senator ended up winning re-election by nearly nine points.

Pointing to the expected wave of attack ads targeting her, Collins said, «Fortunately, the people of Maine are smart, and they know lies and distortions when they see it.»