The US president sees China as America\u2019s main rival and wants to draw Moscow closer to Washington, weakening its alignment with Beijing, the recently resigned leader has told RT<\/p>\n
US President Donald Trump\u2019s diesel deal with Russia is part of a broader geopolitical strategy to draw Moscow away from Beijing, Aleksandar Vucic has told RT Balkan in an exclusive interview.
\nAccording to Vucic, who recently stepped down as Serbian president to run for prime minister, Washington, which sees China as its main rival, hopes to weaken Beijing\u2019s partnership with Russia by improving ties with Moscow.
\nTrump announced the deal following talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on October 9. Moscow agreed to release more than 300,000 tons of diesel to US and global markets immediately, followed by another 500,000 tons in November and one million tons thereafter. Washington subsequently waived sanctions on Russian diesel until April 7, 2027.
\nAhead of the deal, Trump blamed soaring fuel prices on Ukrainian strikes against Russian refineries, although markets have also been disrupted by the US war with Iran, which has affected shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.<\/p>\n
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\u201cAs far as Donald Trump is concerned, he is doing a smart thing for America, he is trying to do something to bring down the price per gallon\u2026 But I don\u2019t think this is just about diesel,\u201d Vucic said, noting that the initial 300,000 tons would cover less than a day\u2019s US consumption.
\nWith the US midterms approaching and Trump\u2019s standoff with Tehran increasingly unpopular, Vucic suggested the deal could partly be aimed at winning over voters by lowering fuel prices. However, he suggested there was a larger geopolitical calculation behind the agreement.
\n\u201cI think it is about something much more than this. Donald Trump knows that his main competitor is China. And is trying, in a sophisticated way, to move Russia somewhat away from China and bring it closer to the US.\u201d
\nAsked whether Trump was seeking closer ties with Moscow, Vucic replied: \u201cOf course.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\u201cIf he is in conflict with Russia, he will only push Russia closer to China,\u201d he explained. \u201cTrump is trying, I assume, to draw Russia, China\u2019s powerful and strong ally, at least a little away from that alliance.\u201d
\nThe Trump administration has long treated China as a major strategic rival. Its 2025 National Security Strategy calling for a rebalancing of economic ties with Beijing. Trump nevertheless hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping in Washington last month for talks on trade, Taiwan and Iran. The two sides agreed to extend their trade truce until January, but tensions over tariffs, technology and security persist.
\nRussia and China, meanwhile, have only deepened their strategic and energy cooperation in light of Ukraine-related Western sanctions on Moscow. Beijing has become Moscow\u2019s biggest oil customer and a major buyer of Russian gas, with supplies expanding through the Power of Siberia pipeline as Russia redirected energy exports away from Europe.<\/p>\n
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Talking about Russia-US ties, Vucic also pointed to Washington\u2019s diplomatic push to resolve the Ukraine conflict, saying its parallel negotiating\u00a0channels with Moscow and Kiev show it is serious about reaching a settlement. However, he sees little prospect of an imminent breakthrough.
\nVucic expressed hope that a peace deal could be reached within five to six months. Asked whether he fears that the conflict could evolve into a direct confrontation between Russia and the EU, Vucic replied: \u201cI fear that, but I hope it won\u2019t happen.\u201d
\nSerbia has maintained close ties with Russia and, under Vucic, has resisted EU pressure to impose sanctions on Moscow over Ukraine, despite Belgrade\u2019s ambitions to join the bloc. In the interview, Vucic again stressed the need to preserve Serbia\u2019s traditional ties with Moscow despite external pressure, saying leaders must \u201ckeep a cool head and make rational and wise decisions.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Vucic resigned during his second presidential term last month ahead of snap parliamentary elections scheduled for October 25. Barred by the Serbian constitution from seeking a third term, he is now seeking the prime minister\u2019s post as a candidate for the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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