Jewish Serbian Foreign Minister Djuric plans to recultivate ties with Israel

Serbia’s foreign minister, Marko Đurić (Djuric), shared his hopes for a reset of relations with both Israel and the United States during a recent interview with the Jerusalem Post. He assumed office in May, having served as Serbia’s ambassador to the U.S. for the past four years.

The Serbian leader is of Jewish descent and spent time in Israel when he was younger.

“The time I spent in Israel as a child shall always have a special place in my heart,” he wrote in the email interview and shared how his background has influenced his perspective. Djuric (41) believes Serbia can play a significant role in the Middle East as the country is strategically located at the crossroads of Eastern and Western influences, emerging from both Ottoman and Communist rule.

While much of the world stage may view Serbia as a small Balkan nation, much can hinge on the allegiances and decisions made there.  

“Both my Serb heritage and my Jewish heritage have undoubtedly shaped my values, instilling in me a deep respect for democracy, a commitment to justice, and a strong sense of community and solidarity in defense of national sovereignty and national security,” Djuric wrote.

“My personal experiences, including having relatives affected by conflict and my family’s historical ties to Israel, reinforce my dedication to human rights and international diplomacy.”

Remembering his time in Israel, Djuric recalled, “The pioneering spirit of a young nation, torn after centuries of hardships, has been an inspiration and a guiding light in my growing-up years. I have always admired the endurance of the Jewish nation, their devotion to preserving their identity and language, and the spirit of love and community of people brought together by the unique culture, history, and incredible suffering as a result of centuries-long persecution.”

Djuric’s previous role as U.S. ambassador has also influenced his perspective. While Serbia’s history with the United States and NATO countries has been checkered, reaching a low point in 1999 when NATO bombed Serbia after it refused to allow Kosovo to become a sovereign nation, Djuric hopes to re-establish ties with both the U.S. and Israel. 

“After decades in which our bilateral relationship was somewhat neglected, President Vučić is the first to recognize the potential and use the political authority he has gained in Serbia and on the international scene to initiate the process of resolving the thorniest issues that have plagued the US-Serbia relations for years, resulting in the expansion of our cooperation in numerous segments,” said Djuric.

Even though Serbia is not a member of NATO, Djuric attended a dinner at the 2024 NATO Summit in Washington to showcase Serbia’s commitment to global peace and stability

“Our presence there… signified that we want to speak and be heard about our position as a constructive international actor, about our strategies and priorities, and about our contribution – by far the highest in Southeastern Europe and among the highest in Europe – to regional and global peace, security, and stability through our participation in UN and EU peacekeeping missions around the world,” he explained.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, while not known for his unwavering commitment to the West, has shown some leanings towards China and Russia. Having Serbia on board is of great strategic benefit to the United States, which makes the recent appointment of Djuric all the more significant.

“Serbia maintains an independent foreign policy, valuing its relationships with international partners, including the US and Israel,” Djuric stated. “There’s no doubt that our strong ties with the US positively influence our engagement with Israel, which is rooted in a long history of bilateral cooperation and mutual respect. Like the US, we see Israel as an important global partner and strive to foster positive relations based on mutual respect, shared interests, and common roots in Judeo-Christian civilization.”