Risks for the Four Pillar Policy Doctrine of Serbia

Stekić, Nenad (2025) Risks for the Four Pillar Policy Doctrine of Serbia. In: Risks for Serbian Foreign Policy in the Fragmentation of the International Order — Actors, Processes, and Outcomes. Institut za međunarodnu politiku i privredu, Beograd, pp. 17-34. ISBN 978-86-7067-363-2

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Abstract

This paper analyzes the risks inherent in Serbia’s “Four Pillars” foreign policy doctrine – its strategic engagement with the United States, the European Union, Russia, and China, within the context of contemporary global challenges. While this approach offers flexibility and diversification of international partnerships, it simultaneously exposes Serbia to conflicting expectations and geopolitical pressures from competing global powers. The article identifies specific vulnerabilities in Serbia’s relations with each of the four actors and examines them through several global stress factors: ongoing security conflicts (Ukraine–Russia, Israel–Palestine, Israel–Iran), escalating trade and technological wars, the global race for critical raw materials (such as lithium), and the broader implications of the green transition and energy dependence. Special attention is given to how these dynamics limit Serbia’s ability to maintain a coherent and sustainable foreign policy. The paper argues that navigating these risks requires a strategic reassessment of Serbia’s priorities to preserve its foreign policy autonomy in an increasingly polarized international system.

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