Political Relations
Bilateral relations between the Republic of Serbia and the United Kingdom are good, with scope for their further improvement. They are based on a long tradition of diplomatic ties, alliance in two world wars, and well-developed cooperation in the areas of economy, defense, security and migration, science, education, and culture. In 2027, the two countries will mark the 190th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.
Political dialogue has intensified in recent years, with a mutual commitment to further deepening cooperation. The United Kingdom provides support to Serbia's European path and is actively engaged within the framework of cooperation with the countries of the Western Balkans.
Economic cooperation shows a positive trend, with growth in trade exchange and the presence of British companies and investment funds in Serbia. In 2025, total trade in goods with the UK amounted to €782.91 million, while in the first eight months of 2026, it reached €852.2 million.
Exchange of Visits
The exchange of high-level and top-level visits has intensified in recent years. Then-President of the Republic Aleksandar Vučić participated in the European Political Community Summit at Blenheim Palace on July 18, 2024, while Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia Ana Brnabić stayed in London on April 17 of the same year. A delegation of the Government of the Republic of Serbia, led by Prime Minister Đuro Macut, stayed in the United Kingdom from September 30 to October 3, 2026.
On the British side, visits of particular importance included those by then-Foreign Secretary David Lammy to Belgrade on April 2, 2025; Special Envoy to the Western Balkans Karen Pierce on April 7–8, 2026; and Minister of State for Defence Lord Vernon Coaker on May 5, 2026.
Meetings on the sidelines of international gatherings contributed to the continuity of political dialogue, including meetings between then-President of the Republic Aleksandar Vučić and Foreign Minister Marko Đurić with Karen Pierce during the 81st Session of the UN General Assembly in New York in September 2026.
Economic Relations
According to data from the Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia (RZS), total trade in goods with the United Kingdom in 2025 amounted to €867.4 million, of which exports from the Republic of Serbia accounted for €479.3 million and imports for €388.1 million. (Note: The second figure in the original Serbian text refers to imports).
Net direct foreign investments from the United Kingdom to the Republic of Serbia from 2010 to the second quarter of 2020 totaled €627 million, ranking the UK 13th on the list of top foreign investors in Serbia.
Some of the largest UK investors in the Republic of Serbia include: British American Tobacco, which privatized the Vranje Tobacco Industry (2013); Endava in the IT sector (2015); Agena Technology in Šimanovci, a factory producing automotive parts (2005); Poseidon Group in real estate in Belgrade; DS Smith in the packaging industry in Kruševac; investment fund Mid Europa Partners, majority owner of the private healthcare system MediGroup (2018); Aptiv Packard, producing electrical wiring for the automotive industry with plants in Novi Sad (2015) and Leskovac (2019), which signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of the Republic of Serbia in November 2019 for the opening of a factory in Zaječar. A commercial contract for the construction of the Pojate–Preljina section of the "Morava Corridor" motorway (total length of 112 km) was signed with Bechtel Enka UK Limited on December 5, 2019.
Bilateral agreements
There are 29 bilateral agreements currently in force.
During the visit of UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy to the Republic of Serbia on April 2, 2025, three Memoranda of Understanding were signed:
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Memorandum of Understanding between His Britannic Majesty's Secretary of State for Business and Trade, acting through the Export Credits Guarantee Department operating as UK Export Finance, and the Government of the Republic of Serbia
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Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Information and Telecommunications of the Republic of Serbia and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in the Field of Cybersecurity
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Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Serbia and the Home Office of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on Enhancing Cooperation in Combating Organized Crime and in the Field of Migration
Contacts
Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in London: http://www.london.mfa.gov.rs/
British Embassy Belgrade: https://www.gov.uk/world/organisations/british-embassy-belgrade.sr
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia: Department for Europe, Tel: +381 11 306 8326, Email: oev@mfa.rs