Particle Data Platform
The Rest Is Politics: Leading

President Aleksandar Vučić: Russia, China, and How Serbia Could Join the EU

4/26/20261 hr 5 min

How does President Vučić justify Serbia's geopolitical balancing act between Russia, China, and the European Union? Why does he warn that if the EU further delays enlargement, the United States might seize the opportunity to build its own sphere of influence in Southeastern Europe? Can Serbia join the EU without recognising Kosovo's independence, and what would that mean for Europe's future?

Rory and Alastair are joined by Aleksandar Vučić, President of Serbia, to discuss all this and more.

__________________

Search IG.com to find...

Clips

Vučić: I’d vote Trump
Hints at PM comeback
Pandora’s box: Kosovo first
“We are not small Russians”
Admiring China’s “eye of a tiger”
No trust with Albin Kurti
Boasting Serbia’s economic gains
“No apology” over war predictions

Transcript preview

First 90 seconds

  1. Alastair Campbell· Host0:00

    Thanks for listening to The Rest is Politics. Sign up to The Rest is Politics Plus to enjoy ad-free listening, receive a weekly newsletter, join our members' chat room, and gain early access to live show tickets. Just go to therestispolitics.com. That's therestispolitics.com.

  2. Rory Stewart· Host0:12

    Help us understand your position in relation to Russia.

  3. Aleksandar Vučić· Guest0:17

    You were presenting yourself as a beacon of democracy. Russia was a beacon of evil, which is not true.

  4. Rory Stewart· Host0:23

    Broadly speaking, we are more democratic than Russia, right? I mean, the gray and nuances, but Putin is running an autocratic state.

  5. Aleksandar Vučić· Guest0:28

    Yeah, but there are different cultures. There are different cultures. There are different traditions. You were always speaking about Serbia that was a Russian puppet.

  6. Alastair Campbell· Host0:36

    We've never said that.

  7. Aleksandar Vučić· Guest0:37

    Okay, or- Never said that.

  8. Rory Stewart· Host0:39

    What does it feel like looking back to the fact that we were enemies and we're now sitting around a table together?

  9. Aleksandar Vučić· Guest0:45

    Many people in the world started doing something against sovereign nations and changing borders because they saw that you were able to change our borders. We have principles, unlike you, Alastair, from time to time.

  10. Rory Stewart· Host0:56

    Okay. So, so, so- Sorry. So [upbeat music] This episode is brought to you by IG. If you're listening to this podcast, the chances are you're someone who thinks seriously about politics, economics, and your own financial future.

  11. Alastair Campbell· Host1:08

    You probably also understand that volatility can also mean opportunity, so rather than waiting for things to settle down, you're wondering how to invest, and that's where IG comes in.

  12. Rory Stewart· Host1:17

    They've been trusted by British investors for over fifty years through every kind of market condition you can think of. IG offers zero commission on your investments, zero account fees, and they were just voted best

We value your privacy

We use cookies to understand how you use our platform and to improve your experience. Click "Accept All" to consent, or "Decline non-essential" to opt out of non-essential cookies. Read our Privacy Policy.