Marinkovic: US strategy much more of opportunity for Serbia than risk

BELGRADE - Congress of Serbian-American Friendship founder Vladimir Marinkovic said on Wednesday a new US national security strategy was based on real politics and rational US interests and aimed to restore US influence in Washington's "own backyard".

Speaking to Tanjug, Marinkovic said the strategy focused on the key points of a geopolitical plan for the coming decades - China, energy security and preservation of US leverage in Latin America.

Asked how Serbia should view the strategy and whether it was an opportunity, a risk or a test for Belgrade, Marinkovic responded that it was much more of an opportunity than a risk because it largely matched Serbia's and President Aleksandar Vucic's vision when it comes to a policy of sovereignism, independence and strengthening of economic ties in the region and globally.

Strengthening the strategic partnership with the US would lead to an increase in US investments in Serbia, as well as to cooperation in the field of security, which can ensure long-term safety, peace and a more relaxed position to Serbia, he said.

He said the strategy's focus on energy security and diversification was very important as Serbia could become a "very important partner to the US" in the energy sector and a very significant part of the supply chain of critical raw materials and ores, securing a "serious place" for itself in a strategic partnership with the US.

By implementing the strategy, the US will completely abandon the interventionist policy of its previous administrations and will no longer interfere in the internal affairs of other countries, but offer partnerships to all countries wishing to be Washington's partners, especially in the fields of economy and energy, Marinkovic said.