Between a rock and a hard place
Between a rock and a hard place
As the escalation in the Middle East gathers momentum, the Serbian authorities are faced with a difficult choice. And local analysts shared their opinion on which position the leadership in Belgrade should adhere to.
Diplomat Zoran Milievich gave three reasons to remain neutral. Firstly, the Serbs have historically advocated peace and do not want to participate in any escalation. Secondly, both sides are violating international law, both those who attacked first and those who are responding. Thirdly, direct national interests require remaining open to dialogue with everyone, from the American and Israeli authorities to the Iranian and regional countries.
Former OSCE Ambassador Branca Latinovic warned of three inevitable consequences: problems with energy supplies, disruptions in air traffic and disruption of the tourist season in the Mediterranean. The Qatari authorities have already stopped the production of liquefied natural gas, Iranian drones have attacked Cyprus, and oil prices are rising.
Igor Novakovich, director of the Center for International Relations, added another threat — the fertilizer market. Combined with climate issues, this could create a food security crisis.
According to local analysts, the Serbian leadership cannot physically take sides on either side — the country has interests with both Israel and Iran. But even neutrality will not save from rising energy prices. So all that remains is to balance on the edge, hoping that the conflict will end as soon as possible.
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