Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has yet to announce whether he will attend the upcoming BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia, despite an invitation from Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Speaking on Thursday, Vucic said he would reveal his decision in the next few days, but provided little detail. “I’ll answer on the 20th or 21st of October, and everything will be clear by then. I expect many important talks, but I can’t disclose everything now,” Vu?i? said.
The BRICS summit, taking place from October 22 to 24, will be a key moment for leaders of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. Putin mentioned Vu?i?’s anticipated participation in a meeting with Serbia’s Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vulin in early September.
However, Vucic has warned that attending the summit could have significant political consequences for Serbia. “If I say I’m going to Kazan, it could signal the end of Serbia’s European path. If I choose otherwise, it may be seen as a betrayal of Russia,” Vucic said. “No matter what you do, you’ll always face criticism from those who don’t have a clear ideology and are just waiting for a reason to attack.”
The announcement comes at a time when Serbia is trying to balance its European Union ambitions with its strong ties to Russia. While Serbia is a candidate for EU membership, it has resisted calls to impose sanctions on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine. Belgrade continues to maintain close political and economic relations with Moscow.
Vucic’s decision is also being closely watched in light of ongoing domestic protests, particularly those opposing lithium mining in Serbia. On October 17, hundreds of demonstrators gathered in Loznica to protest plans by the mining company Rio Tinto to develop a lithium mine in western Serbia. This comes after the Serbian parliament failed to pass a bill banning the exploration of lithium and boron.
Vucic acknowledged the protests but stood firm on his government’s position. “We’ve heard their messages, but that doesn’t mean we agree with them. We will give a professional response based on what’s best for Serbia’s future,” he said.
