India–Serbia relations

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India-Serbia relations
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India
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Serbia

India and Serbia maintain diplomatic relations established between India and SFR Yugoslavia in 1948.

Contents

History

In 1926, Rabindranath Tagore gave two lectures at the University of Belgrade. [1] Both countries were founding members of the Non Aligned Movement with Serbia being part of Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia at the time. [2] Countries had developed close friendly relations during the period of Cold War when both Yugoslavia and India tried to maintain the peaceful coexistence among the nations. Especially close relations existed among the Yugoslav president Josip Broz Tito and Indian first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. [3] Since 1970s New Belgrade has two streets named after Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru with the busts of the two leaders set in that place in 1990s. [1] [4] India was one of the nations that cosponsored the proposal to readmit the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) to the United Nations in 2000. [5] During her visit to Belgrade in 2013, Indian Foreign Minister Preneet Kaur stated that she hopes that Serbia will continue to support reforms in international bodies, including the United Nations, and India's bid to become a permanent member of the UN Security Council. [6] In an 2018 interview for local media, Indian Ambassador to Serbia, Narinder Chauhan, stated that "Despite the breakup of Yugoslavia our political relations continue to be exceptional, marked by a long tradition of mutual support on issues of core interest... It is a matter of immense satisfaction that Serbia also supports India’s international role. India sees Serbia as a reliable partner." [7]

India's stance on Kosovo

16th-century Ottoman miniature depicting two Indian mahouts carrying out executions by elephant near Belgrade Execution of Prisonsers Belgrade-Suleymanname.jpg
16th-century Ottoman miniature depicting two Indian mahouts carrying out executions by elephant near Belgrade

India backs Serbia's position regarding Kosovo and its reaction to the 2008 Kosovo declaration of independence is one of non-recognition. [8]

According to leaked US embassy cables, then U.S. Ambassador to India David C. Mulford pressured India in joining with the United States and other European countries in recognizing Kosovo's independence. But due to India's fear that Kosovo independence will set a precedent for Kashmir independence made non-recognition of Kosovo's independence as India's default position. [9]

In 2022, spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affarirs of India Arindam Bagchi stated thet India's position on Kosovo has not changed, in response to reports on the opening of the India-Kosovo Commercial Economic Office in New Delhi. [10]

Cultural relations

Serbia was one of the nations that cosponsored Narendra Modi proposal for International Yoga Day at United Nations. [11]

Resident diplomatic missions

See also

Related Research Articles

India, officially the Republic of India, has full diplomatic relations with 201 states, including Palestine, the Holy See, and Niue. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is the government agency responsible for the conduct of foreign relations of India. With the world's third largest military expenditure, second largest armed force, fifth largest economy by GDP nominal rates and third largest economy in terms of purchasing power parity, India is a prominent regional power and a potential superpower.

Foreign relations of Serbia are formulated and executed by the Government of Serbia through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Serbia established diplomatic relations with most world nations – 188 states in total – starting with the United Kingdom (1837) and ending most recently with Guyana (2024). Serbia has friendly relations with following neighboring countries: Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania, and Hungary. It maintains colder, more tense relations with Albania and Croatia and to a lesser degree with Bosnia and Herzegovina and Bulgaria due to historic nation-building conflict and differing political ideologies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">India and the Non-Aligned Movement</span>

For India, the concept of non-alignment began as a policy of non-participation in the military affairs of a bipolar world and in the context of colonialism aimed towards optimum involvement through multi-polar participation towards peace and security. It meant a country should be able to preserve a certain amount of freedom of action internationally. There was no set definition of non-alignment, which meant the term was interpreted differently by different politicians and governments, and varied in different contexts. The overall aims and principles found consensus among the movement members. Non-aligned countries, however, rarely attained the freedom of judgement they desired and their actual behaviour towards the movement's objectives, such as social justice and human rights, were unfulfilled in many cases. India's actions often resembled those of aligned countries. The response of the non-aligned nations during India's wars in 1962, 1965 and 1971 revealed non-aligned positions on issues such as secession. The non-aligned nations were unable to fulfil the role of peacekeepers during the Indo-China war of 1962 and the Indo-Pakistan war of 1965 despite meaningful attempts. The non-aligned response to the Bangladesh Liberation War and the following 1971 Indo-Pakistan War showed most of the non-aligned nations prioritised territorial integrity above human rights, which could be explained by the recently attained statehood for the non-aligned. During this period, India's non-aligned stance was questioned and criticized. Jawaharlal Nehru had not wanted the formalization of non-alignment and none of the non-aligned nations had commitments to help each other. The international rise of countries such as China also decreased incentives for the non-aligned countries to stand in solidarity with India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greece–India relations</span> Bilateral relations

Greece–India relations are the bilateral relations between India and Greece. Greece has an embassy in New Delhi. India has an embassy in Athens. As of 2023, the relation between the two countries is closer than ever and is considered historical and strategic by both parts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Portugal–Serbia relations</span> Bilateral relations

Portuguese-Serbian relations date back to 1882. Portugal has an embassy in Belgrade, and Serbia has an embassy in Lisbon. Despite support by Portugal for the independence of Kosovo, Serbian Prime Minister Mirko Cvetković was keen to improve bilateral cooperation. Also, Portugal is backing Serbia's accession to the European Union (EU).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Serbia–Spain relations</span> Bilateral relations

Serbia-Spain relations are foreign relations between Serbia and Spain. Both countries established diplomatic relations on October 14, 1916. Serbia has an embassy in Madrid. Spain has an embassy in Belgrade. Both countries are member states of the UN, Interpol, COE and OSCE. Spain is member state of the EU since 1986 and Serbia is a candidate country since 2012 negotiating its future membership which Spain is strongly supporting. In relation to third parties, both countries supported position of Argentina in its Falkland Islands sovereignty dispute with the United Kingdom in the past.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Georgia–India relations</span> Bilateral relations

Georgia and India maintain diplomatic relations. The Embassy of India in Yerevan, Armenia is concurrently accredited to Georgia. Georgia maintains an embassy in New Delhi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Egypt–Serbia relations</span> Bilateral relations

Egypt and Serbia maintain diplomatic relations established in 1908. Egypt has an embassy in Belgrade, while Serbia has an embassy in Cairo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">India–Sudan relations</span> Bilateral relations

India–Sudan relations, also called Indian-Sudanese relations or Indo-Sudanese relations, refers to the international relations that exists between India and Sudan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Palestine–Serbia relations</span> Bilateral relations

The Palestinian–Serbian relations are bilateral relations between the State of Palestine and the Republic of Serbia. Relations between Serbia and Palestine have been very close and friendly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Azerbaijan–Serbia relations</span> Bilateral relations

Azerbaijan and Serbia maintain diplomatic relations established between Azerbaijan and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in 1997.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Serbia–South Africa relations</span> Bilateral relations

Serbia and South Africa maintain diplomatic relations established in 1992. Serbia has an embassy in Pretoria and South Africa a non-resident embassy in Athens (Greece) which is also accredited to Serbia.

Kosovo's declaration of independence from Serbia was enacted on Sunday, 17 February 2008 by a unanimous vote of the Assembly of Kosovo. All 11 representatives of the Serb minority boycotted the proceedings. International reaction was mixed, and the world community continues to be divided on the issue of the international recognition of Kosovo. India's reaction to the 2008 Kosovo declaration of independence is one of non-recognition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indonesia–Serbia relations</span> Bilateral relations

Indonesia and Serbia maintain diplomatic relations established between Indonesia and SFR Yugoslavia in 1954.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">India–Uzbekistan relations</span> Bilateral relations

India–Uzbekistan relations are the international relations that exist between the Republic of India and the Republic of Uzbekistan. India has an embassy in Tashkent; Uzbekistan has an embassy in New Delhi.

The History of Indian foreign policy refers to the foreign relations of modern India post-independence, that is the Dominion of India (from 1947 to 1950) and the Republic of India (from 1950 onwards).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yugoslavia and the Non-Aligned Movement</span> Yugoslav involvement in the Cold War

The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was a founding member of the Non-Aligned Movement, an international groupation established to maintain independence of countries beyond Eastern and Western Bloc from the major Cold War powers. Belgrade, the capital of Yugoslavia, hosted the First Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement in September 1961 and the Ninth Summit in September 1989.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indonesia–Yugoslavia relations</span> Bilateral relations

Indonesia–Yugoslavia relations were historical foreign relations between now split-up Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and Indonesia. Both countries were founding member states of the Non-Aligned Movement. Two countries established formal diplomatic relations in 1954. First diplomatic documents were exchanged as early as 1947. Breakup of Yugoslavia, one of the founding and core members of the Non-Aligned Movement, brought into question the very existence of the Movement which was preserved only by politically pragmatic chairmanship of Indonesia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">India–Yugoslavia relations</span> Bilateral relations

India–Yugoslavia relations were historical foreign relations between India and now split-up Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Yugoslavia established full diplomatic relations with India on 5 December 1948 following the 1948 Tito–Stalin split. Initially two countries developed their relations at the UN Security Council in 1949 during their shared membership. In the period of the Cold War both countries were the founders and among core members of the Non-Aligned Movement.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Foreign relations of Yugoslavia</span>

Foreign relations of Yugoslavia were international relations of the interwar Kingdom of Yugoslavia and the Cold War Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. During its existence, the country was the founding member of numerous multilateral organizations including the United Nations, Non-Aligned Movement, International Monetary Fund, Group of 77, Group of 15, Central European Initiative and the European Broadcasting Union.

References

  1. 1 2 "India-Serbia Relations" (PDF). Ministry of External Affairs of India . Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  2. "India-Serbia Bilateral relations". Embassy of India, Belgrade. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  3. "India and Serbia and Montenegro Re-engagement: Regional and Bilateral Dimensions". Centre for Policy Research . Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  4. "Home › India-Serbia Bilateral relations". Ministry of External Affairs of India . Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  5. "India-Serbia Relations" (PDF). Ministry of External Affairs of India . Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  6. "Serbia and India "bound by traditional friendship"". B92. 21 November 2013. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  7. "Traditional Closeness, Despite Geographical Distance". CorD Magazine. Archived from the original on 28 February 2018. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  8. "Relations between Serbia and India extremely good – Nikolic". The InSerbia Network. Archived from the original on 4 June 2016. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  9. Sivaramakrishnan, Arvind (4 April 2011). "Kashmir issue clouds Indian view of Kosovo". The Hindu. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  10. "India's position on Kosovo is well known and there is no change in it, says MEA spokesperson". All India Radio . 25 November 2022. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
  11. "Pokret nesvrstanih još spaja Srbiju i Indiju". Danas. 13 August 2015. Retrieved 16 May 2016.