WASHINGTON — A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers is working to bring a major international security gathering to South Carolina rather than Serbia, shining a light on divisions among congressional Republicans and the complicated relationship between Washington and the Balkan nation.
Republican Representative Joe Wilson plans to introduce a joint congressional resolution on Friday, backed by 40 co-sponsors, calling for the 2027 annual session of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe — known as the OSCE — to be held in Charleston, South Carolina instead of Belgrade, Serbia’s capital. Belgrade has been favored by other prominent Republicans.
Reuters reviewed a copy of the resolution ahead of its release.
Both cities are competing to host the annual gathering, which brings together European, Central Asian, and North American member nations. In recent years, the OSCE — which includes up to 57 member states — has focused heavily on managing the consequences of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
While supporters of each location have put forward various logistical and practical reasons for their preference, the debate also reflects a broader disagreement in Washington about how to handle relations with Serbia. The country maintains close ties with both Moscow and the Trump administration.
Some lawmakers, troubled by Serbia’s deep economic connections with Russia, have called for a tougher approach toward the country. Serbia is a major buyer of Russian energy and has refused to join Western sanctions against Russia. Others argue that continued engagement with Serbia — a nation that hopes to eventually join the European Union — is the better path toward bringing it into alignment with Western interests.
In an interview, Wilson, who serves as co-chair of the Helsinki Commission, a Europe-focused congressional body, said a U.S.-hosted meeting would demonstrate America’s dedication to its OSCE partners. He also took aim at Serbia’s position toward Kosovo, a U.S. ally that Belgrade views as an illegitimate breakaway territory.
Among those co-sponsoring Wilson’s resolution is William Keating, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee’s Europe subcommittee, who has publicly spoken out against the Serbian government on multiple issues.
In a statement, Keating said the annual session should be held in the United States “to highlight the important role the United States needs to play in multilateral institutions.”
The Serbian embassy in Washington did not respond to a request for comment.
Wilson said that Republican Senator Roger Wicker, who chairs the Senate Armed Services Committee, is among those opposing the Charleston bid. According to Wilson, Wicker told him that the congressional funding needed for the Charleston event might not be secured — a concern Wilson dismissed. Wicker also serves as the top senator on the Helsinki Commission, giving him significant influence over whether a U.S.-hosted summit could move forward.
Reuters was unable to independently confirm Wicker’s remarks, and his office did not respond to a request for comment.
Wilson also noted that South Carolina would be a strong host location in part because his son, the Republican nominee for governor, would help ensure international delegates are well received. Several co-sponsors of the resolution also represent South Carolina.
It remains uncertain whether Wilson’s resolution will advance. Although the measure has attracted support from relatively senior lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, Congress is expected to enter a recess within days that will last through September.
