Serbian President Vucic cancels US visit due to illness

Serbian President Vucic cancels US visit due to illness

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has abruptly cut short his visit to the United States and returned to Serbia after suddenly complaining of chest pains apparently caused by high blood pressure. Doctors announced this on Saturday.

Sudden illness during a meeting

Vucic, 55, suffered health problems during a meeting in the United States on Friday and decided to fly home against the advice of American doctors. Cardiologist Dragan Dincic from Belgrade's military hospital, where Vucic was treated after his arrival, said the president received additional therapy after the incident and was now in a "stable and satisfactory condition." Dincic added that the president will not be hospitalized but "cannot be expected to resume his regular activities for several days."

Visit to Rudy Giuliani

Before his sudden health incident, Vucic was in Miami, Florida, where he had met with former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani. The Serbian president also expressed his desire to arrange a meeting with American President Donald Trump.

International reactions and future plans

Richard Grenell, the US presidential envoy for special missions, was optimistic and expressed hope for Vucic's speedy recovery. “It’s a shame I missed you, but I hope everything is okay,” Grenell wrote on X.

Political challenges in Serbia

Vucic, seen as a populist leader, has said he will travel to Russia later this month to take part in a victory parade in Moscow, despite warnings from EU officials that it could harm Serbia's aspirations to join the European Union. The Serbian president has also refused to join Western sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. He is also under pressure at home after sustained anti-corruption protests over the past six months, sparked by the collapse of a roof at a train station in the north of the country that killed 16 people.