Assess the significance of India–Serbia relations in the context of NAM legacy and India's position on territorial integrity and secession.

India established diplomatic relations with Yugoslavia, of which Serbia is the successor, in 1948, and the two countries co-founded the Non-Aligned Movement [1]. Trade between them is small, but the relationship matters politically because both put sovereignty ahead of secession.

NAM legacy: a shared foundation

• The Nehru–Tito partnership led to the first NAM summit at Belgrade (1961). Both sides still describe their ties as rooted in this friendship [1].
• Strategic autonomy: Serbia seeks EU membership but stays outside NATO. This balancing is close to India's own multi-alignment.
• Converging views: the two support each other in international fora on many global issues [1].

Territorial integrity and secession: the core political bond

• India has not recognised Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence and gives "principled support" to Serbia's sovereignty [1][2].
• Reciprocity: Serbia, in turn, has backed Indian candidacies in international bodies [1].
• Consistency of principle: India opposes unilateral secession because it could set a precedent, and it defends its own unity on the same ground. Its Kosovo stance therefore follows the UN Charter's respect for territorial integrity. It differs from the Western consensus on Kosovo, which shows that Indian policy is independent.

Contemporary significance

• High-level engagement: President Murmu's June 2023 state visit was the first head-of-state visit ever between the two countries [1].
• Institutional dialogue: the 9th Foreign Office Consultations were held in Belgrade in March 2026 [3].
• Agreements: a Defence Cooperation Agreement (2019) and a Double Taxation Avoidance Convention (2006) are in place [2].
• Gateway: Serbia gives India a foothold in the Western Balkans as it pursues EU accession.

Limitations

• Thin economic ties: bilateral trade was only about US$247 million in January–September 2022 [2].
• External pulls: Serbia's EU path may require it to align its foreign policy with Brussels. That could test its convergence with India on some issues.

Overall, the NAM legacy gives the relationship its history, and agreement on territorial integrity keeps it relevant today. Because the bond rests on positions held by the Serbian state, it is likely to outlast changes of government in Belgrade. India should now add economic and defence substance through trade, pharmaceuticals and IT, while keeping its principled stand on Kosovo.