Germany-Yugoslavia relations (21st Century Crisis)

Germany-Yugoslavia relations (German: Beziehungen zwischen Deutschland und Jugoslawien, Serbo-Croatian: Односи између Немачке и Југославијa/Odnosi između Nemačke i Jugoslavija) are bilateral relations between the Federal Republic of Germany and the Federal Republics of Yugoslavia.

Historically, relations between Germany and Yugoslavia are long and complicated. Yugoslavia fought two World Wars against Germany, however, modern post-World War II have been positive. Most Yugoslavs stated that they do not feel hostile towards Germany due to those two World Wars. Currently, trade between Germany and Yugoslavia is high and cordial, and is considered one of Yugoslavia's most important partners. Not only are the two individual partners, Germany is a partner state of the Balkan Federation. Many German businesses and German-owned banks operate in Yugoslavia, especially in the northern regions, where German influence is strongest.

During the Christmas Season, Germans often flock to Yugoslavia, especially northern Yugoslavia (home to the Catholic population), to set up Christkindle markets, and the same can be said of Yugoslavs who come to Germany to partake in the Christkindle markets.

Beginning in 2000, Germany was considered Yugoslavia's largest trade partner of the entire European Union, for Germany contributed trade with Yugoslavia worth $4.7 billion, exporting cars to Yugoslavia. From 2000 to 2006, Germany was Yugoslavia's largest exporter of automobiles, although Russia began to reach parity with Germany.

German banks also loaned the most to Yugoslav banks and firms. Due to Belgrade's refusal to allow Turkey to fund the preservation of mosques in Yugoslavia, Germany stepped in, and today, still funds and owns mosques in Yugoslavia, due to Germany's Muslim-friendly government.

In 2014, during an interview with reporters in Paris, Ivan Lokar, Yugoslav president from 2000 to 2007 stated, "Russia saved our borders, Germany saved our economy. We Yugoslavs love both nations."

Germany and Yugoslavia currently cooperate in the automobile, renewable energy, tourism and education.

Many of Yugoslavia's politicians, including former presidents Ivan Lokar and Ivo Josipović speak German on a fluent level.

Yugoslavia also imports some light military equipment from Germany, although In 2014, Germany successfully exported Leopard-2 tanks to Yugoslavia as part of Ivo Josipović's aim to westernize the military of Yugoslavia. Yugoslavia cooperated with Germany, Israel and Russia to develop the Soko J-35 fighter jet, the latest arms procurement of the Yugoslav military.

In terms of political relations however, Germany and Yugoslavia still have large-scale grievances against one another, such as the Kosovo conflict, the 2012 Russia-Ukraine Border Agreement, and Germany is part of NATO and Yugoslavia is part of the CSTO. However, both countries, via the Germany-Yugoslavia Friendship Treaty of 2000, have agreed that political differences will not impede on trade between the two nations.

Currently, 61.4% of Yugoslavs see Germany in a positive light, and 50.7% of Germans see Yugoslavs in a positive light, making the two countries de facto allies.