Relations between Italy and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia-Montenegro) under Slobodan Milosevic's rule were cold but nevertheless continued. The Italian government bought shares in Telekom Serbia, but also took part in the 1999 NATO bombing of Yugoslavia when the NATO-member states used the Aviano Air Base in Italy from where military aeroplanes dropped bombs onto Yugoslavia. Italian participation was perceived as a major rapture in relations, yet Rome decided to participate in NATO bombing as it enabled Italy to get a primary role in the aftermath of the war.[6] 1999 NATO bombing of Yugoslavia was the first NATO intervention led by Italian officials and the country was the second largest contributing state of the NATO Kosovo Force.[6] This offered an opportunity for Italy to regain a more central role in Mediterranean diplomacy which particularly materialized in UNIFIL Lebanon.[6] Italy and Serbia quickly normalized relations after the overthrow of Slobodan Milošević and Rome becoming one of the first supporters of Serbia's European integrations.[6]
Serbian university professor and academic Nikša Stipčević made various contributions to the study of Serbian-Italian relations in the 19th century and history of the relations in general.[4]
Relations since 2006
On 21 February 2008 Italy recognized unilateral declaration of independence of Kosovo which in previous days was recognized by France, United Kingdom, United States and Germany as well. This was perceived as a second major blow to the relations after 1999 intervention and Serbia recalled its ambassador for a couple of months but subsequently normalized relations.[6] Former Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs and at the time High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security PolicyFederica Mogherini facilitated Belgrade–Pristina negotiations. In an effort to reach final comprehensive agreement between two sides Mogherini was open to the idea of Partition of Kosovo but the agreement was not reached due to Kosovo's announcement of a 10% and subsequently 100% tariffs on goods imported from Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina.[7] In 2016 Italy was represented in Belgrade with 25 diplomats, just behind Russia (54), United States (40), China (37), Germany (33) and Libya (27) but more than Austria, France, Turkey, Hungary, United Kingdom or Serbian diplomatic allies in Europe such as Greece and Spain. [6] Comparatively high Italian presence was explained with growing economic ties, unusually high Libyan diplomatic presence, Serbia's role in Western Balkans and Italian leading role in developing the best possible NATO–Serbia relations short of membership.
Italy is one of Serbia's main trading partners. In 2019, Italy was the fourth largest source of imports and the second largest export destination for Serbia.[8]
On April 25 2020, Serbia sent eight planes with medical aid to Italy, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Serbia sent two million epidemiological masks, two million surgical masks, four million gloves and 100,000 suits.[6]
^Živanov, Dragan (6 January 2019). "Manastir Žiča". Srbija izbliza. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
^ abcdefgVučetić, Bojana (2016). "An overview of Serbian historiography on Serbian-Italian relations". Collection of Works - the Institute of History Belgrade. 28.