SARAJEVO AND ZAGREB CALLED FOR A WESTERN RESPONSE TO DODIK’S PRESENCE AT MLADIĆ’S FUNERAL: The following day, he was an honored guest at the U.S. Embassy in Israel!

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković*** stated that Croatia will raise the issue of Milorad Dodik at the international level after the Republika Srpska leader attended Ratko Mladić’s funeral.***

Answering journalists’ questions, Plenković said that Dodik had become more accepted in the international community after stepping down from office than he had been before.

“As for Milorad Dodik, I have already answered that several times. Unfortunately, we have noticed that, since he stepped down from his duties, he has become more accepted in the international community than he was before,” Plenković said.

He added that the events represent a “new moment,” which is why the Croatian foreign minister and other colleagues responsible for international relations will raise this issue at all levels.

“What happened today is certainly a new moment, and the foreign minister and colleagues dealing with foreign affairs will raise this issue at all levels, especially given the consequences of paying tribute in this way to a man who is remembered and perceived in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina in the worst possible way,” the Croatian prime minister said.

Plenković did not directly announce that Croatia would seek sanctions against Dodik, but confirmed that Zagreb would discuss the issue with its international partners.

Dodik, on the other hand, posted a photograph from the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem just a few hours later, saying that he was there at the invitation of the U.S. ambassador to Israel.

The leader of Republika Srpska met with the U.S. ambassador to Israel in Jerusalem, while the United States is celebrating the 250th anniversary of its independence this year. Official programs of U.S. diplomatic missions confirm that this anniversary is being marked throughout 2026.

Dodik had previously also visited Jerusalem, where he met with U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee.

Plenković’s latest statements came after Ratko Mladić’s funeral, which was attended by a number of political officials from Republika Srpska and Serbia. The Croatian prime minister had previously also criticized the European Commission’s response, saying that it should have been stronger.