Klix: Vucic imposed himself as the leader of the region during the pandemic

Photo: Tanjug/Dragan Kujundzic

Serbia's move to provide vaccination to citizens from the region, regardless of their place of residence, has provoked many positive reactions both in the Balkans and beyond, writes the Sarajevo portal Klix.ba, adding that Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, "whether or not we want to admit it, has imposed himself as the leader of the entire region during the pandemic, and Serbia as the protector of health."

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However, many have certainly wondered why Serbia is doing all this and what benefit it has from it, says Klix in an article published under the headline, "How Serbia made a wise geopolitical and economic move by vaccinating the neighborhood."

"In addition to that political aspect, if we look from another point of view, we can also see economic benefits that Serbia is realizing. A trip to Belgrade costs money, as well as staying in that city, whether it lasts a few hours or a day or two. There is the cost of fuel, food, drinks, possibly overnight stays and shopping," the Sarajevo portal assessed.

Economic analyst Admir Cavalic told Klix.ba that, if one looks at the total costs of traveling to and staying in Serbia, which can include a weekend overnight stay, it is likely that free vaccination of foreign nationals does not cost Serbia.

Ingenious geopolitical move

"Here we take it that those vaccines were either donated or procured for a few dollars. In that sense, we cannot talk about costs for Serbia. There are a number of other factors, such as the so-called soft power that radiates from Serbia and the fact that the vaccines have an expiry date, which in no way diminishes Belgrade's decision to vaccinate citizens from other countries as well," he said.

He believes that, as far as the economic aspect is concerned, it's important to look at the decision of the Serbian authorities to position Belgrade as a destination for foreigners who are getting immunized.

"This is on purpose, it's not in towns near the border. A person will spend the money along the way, as well as by coming to Belgrade. These are not some huge profits, but enough to pay off the vaccine. That is a really good move by Serbia, both in the geopolitical and in the economic sense," Cavalic thinks.

Klix added that Cavalic stressed Belgrade's decision to immunize citizens from the region is a truly ingenious geopolitical move.

(Telegraf.rs)