US Congress Urges 2027 OSCE Summit to Be Held in South Carolina

A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers, led by Republican Representative Joe Wilson, plans to introduce a joint congressional resolution with 40 co‑sponsors that would move the 2027 annual session of the Organization for Security and Co‑operation in Europe (OSCE) from Belgrade to Charleston, South Carolina. The resolution argues that hosting the meeting in the United States would signal Washington’s commitment to its OSCE allies and highlight America’s role in addressing the fallout from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Lawmakers cite logistical arguments but also point to Serbia’s close economic ties with Russia, its purchase of Russian energy and its refusal to join Western sanctions, as well as its hostile stance toward Kosovo. Some members, however, stress the need to keep diplomatic engagement with Belgrade to support Serbia’s EU accession path. The two cities – Charleston and Belgrade – are the only candidates officially considered for the OSCE parliamentary assembly’s yearly gathering of the 57 member states.

The effort reflects a broader debate in Washington over how to balance pressure on Serbia with continued cooperation, and it could shape future U.S. policy toward the Balkans and the OSCE’s work on European security.