Saudi Arabia–Serbia relations

ZaDoraemonzu: The official relations between Serbia and Saudi Arabia

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'''Saudi–Serbian relations''' refers to bilateral relations between [[Saudi Arabia]] and [[Serbia]].

==Establishment of relations==
Saudi Arabia was the last Arab country Serbia and its predecessor [[Yugoslavia]] had never established relations, until 2013 when the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Serbia to the [[United Nations]], [[Feodor Starčević]] and the Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the United Nations, [[Abdallah Al-Mouallimi]], signed on 17 April 2013 in [[New York]] the Protocol on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the two countries.<ref>https://ift.tt/3dWhOb7>

==Kosovo dispute==


[[Kosovo]] declared independence in 2008 and Saudi Arabia recognized her in 2009.<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref><ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref> Kosovo's independence was strongly opposed by Serbia, which has maintained the view that Kosovo is an integral part of Serbia.

During the [[NATO bombings of Yugoslavia]] in 1999, which related to the Kosovo dispute, Saudi Arabia had called for restraint.<ref>https://ift.tt/31s1PMW> Saudi Arabia had also sent lethal weapons to Kosovo Albanian force, but refused to make a further involvement except enhancing cultural power in Kosovo.<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref>

==Military relations==
Since official establishment of relations between Saudi Arabia and Serbia in 2013, Serbia has emerged as a major weapon supplier for Saudi Arabia. Since 2016, Serbia has been the center of controversies over arms deals with Saudi Arabia.<ref>https://ift.tt/31qGiEj>

In May 2017, a joint BIRN and OCCRP investigation revealed a large number of Serbian weapons have been purchased by Saudi Arabia via a Bulgarian tycoon to sell for [[Saudi Arabian Armed Forces]] and Saudi-backed groups fighting in Yemen and Syria.<ref>https://ift.tt/3kjmLge> The accusation on Serbia over weapon selling to Saudi Arabia resurfaced in August 2019 when Serbian weapons were found to be used by Sudanese [[Janjaweed]] with Saudi Arabia was the buyer.<ref>https://ift.tt/2ILgMTv>

In December 2019, Serbian military company [[Krusik]] had been involved in a scandal with regard to Saudi Arabia's arms deals; Serbian authorities were accused of silencing the detail to secure trades with Riyadh.<ref>https://ift.tt/35n4jgs>

==Economic relations==
Since establishment of relations, Saudi Arabia and Serbia have witnessed economic trades booming. Saudi Kingdom’s two-way trade with Serbia stood at $31 million in 2017 when Serbia aimed to reach higher economic tie.<ref>https://ift.tt/35ivRUj>

==Diplomatic missions==
Saudi Arabia maintains an embassy in [[Belgrade]] and Serbia has an embassy in [[Riyadh]].

==Notes==
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==References==


==External links==
*[https://ift.tt/2IRFYIf Embassy of The Republic of Serbia in Saudi Arabia]





[[Category:Bilateral relations of Serbia]]
[[Category:Bilateral relations of Saudi Arabia]]
[[Category:Saudi Arabia–Serbia relations]]

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