Sırp Dış Politikasında Bir Denge Unsuru Olarak Rusya

Russia has always been a priority in Serbian foreign policy from the past to the present. However,since the 2000s, with Belgrade’s foreign policy orientation shifting towards the “West,” Russia hasemerged as an eminent counterbalance for Serbian politicians that strengthens their hands againstthe West. This article examines the fundamental dynamics of Serbia-Russia relations and focuseson how Russia has become an essential and indispensable actor in Serbian foreign policy. Thebalance policy that Serbia pursues between “Western” and “non-Western” actors is explained byemploying the fundamental concepts of the “structural realism” approach. The basic assumption ofthis study is that Serbia, rather than following a single state or group of states in its foreign policyorientation, pragmatically pursues a balanced policy that aligns with its interests by trying tomaintain its maneuverability by the conditions of international politics.Keywords: Serbian Foreign Policy, Serbia-Russia Relations, Serbia, Russia, Balancing Policy