Donald Trump Jr., the eldest son of US President Donald Trump, met with Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic in Belgrade on March 11 to discuss bilateral relations between Serbia and the United States.

The meeting, which Vucic described as taking place in a “cordial and friendly atmosphere”, focused on strengthening ties between the two countries, with a particular emphasis on economic relations.

“A cordial conversation with Donald Trump Jr., son of the President of the United States of America Donald Trump, about bilateral relations between Serbia and the USA and current topics shaping the global political and economic scene,” Vucic wrote in a Facebook post.

Vucic highlighted the importance of economic and political cooperation with the US, noting that the discussion also touched on “strategic cooperation between the two countries and joint projects in the coming years”.

The visit is a continuation of Trump Jr.'s involvement in international affairs, particularly in regions where his family's business interests intersect with US foreign policy. Trump Jr. previously visited Belgrade in September 2024 during the US election campaign, where he hosted a dinner for a group of local businessmen.

In addition to his role as an advisor to his father, Trump Jr. serves as executive vice president of the Trump Organisation, overseeing operations alongside his brother Eric. He has been instrumental in shaping the Trump administration's policies, particularly in regard to key appointments and strategic decisions. There has been speculation in the US about his future political ambitions, particularly as his father is ineligible to run in the 2028 presidential election due to constitutional limits.

While in Belgrade, Trump Jr. is expected to play a role in advancing the Trump Organisation’s business interests in the region, notably a controversial real estate project in the Serbian capital. Jared Kushner, Trump Jr.'s brother-in-law and former senior advisor to Trump, is pursuing a luxury hotel and apartment complex development in Belgrade in collaboration with Emirati billionaire Mohamed Alabbar. The development, set to be built on the site of a bombed-out Yugoslav military headquarters from the 1999 Kosovo war, will carry the Trump brand. The project is slated to begin pre-sales by summer 2025.

Vucic has voiced support for the project, which Kushner presented to him in June 2024. The luxury development aims to replace the remnants of the Yugoslav General Staff building and is seen as a significant step in enhancing economic and political ties between Serbia and the United States.

The Trump family’s involvement in Serbia’s business landscape, including the high-profile development spearheaded by Kushner, underscores the blending of politics and business by the new Trump administration. Serbia's backing of the venture shows its eagerness to attract US investment.

Given Donald Trump Jr.'s active role in his father’s political activities, his visit could serve as an early indication of how the new US administration might approach relations with Serbia and the broader region going forward, signalling a more favourable US policy toward Serbia.