U.S. Senators Chuck Grassley and Jeanne Shaheen are leading a congressional initiative for urgent diplomatic action to protect the sovereignty of Bosnia and Herzegovina, reports Vijesti.ba.
The message is clear: unconstitutional actions must be stopped.
Senator Jim Risch, chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has also joined the initiative, which includes an official letter to Secretary of State Mark Rubio.
The letter is signed by Senators Charles E. Grassley, Jeanne Shaheen, James E. Risch, and Richard J. Durbin, four of the most influential senators.
Co-signers include Congress members Thom Tillis, Chris Van Hollen, Peter Welch, Mike Quigley, and Ann Wagner.
They are calling for the Trump administration to use all available means against Milorad Dodik and his associates.
The letter expresses deep concern over the recent actions of Milorad Dodik, the leader of the Republika Srpska entity within Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“For years, he has engaged in secessionist activities, challenging Bosnia and Herzegovina’s state institutions, undermining the Dayton Agreement, and threatening the country’s territorial integrity and ethno-social cohesion. In response, the United States—including the first Trump administration—imposed sanctions on Dodik and individuals and entities that supported his secessionist efforts,” the letter states.
It recalls that on February 26, 2025, the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina sentenced Dodik to one year in prison and banned him from political activity for six years as a consequence of his decision to implement unconstitutional laws that rejected the authority of the Constitutional Court and the Office of the High Representative.
“Dodik has vowed to ignore the ruling and continue with his separatist agenda, taking steps toward the possible secession of Republika Srpska from Bosnia and Herzegovina,” the letter states.
It further notes that Dodik and his allies have escalated the secessionist crisis they created.
“The National Assembly of Republika Srpska has passed, and Dodik has implemented, two new unconstitutional laws aimed at prohibiting the functioning of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s state security and judicial institutions within Republika Srpska.
Republika Srpska institutions have been ordered to use force to stop and prevent the legal and lawful actions of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s institutions within the entity’s borders. In addition to threats of force, employees of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s state institutions who live and work in Republika Srpska have been threatened with arrest, sanctions, and criminal proceedings if they continue to fulfill their federal duties. This is a direct attack on Bosnia and Herzegovina’s constitutional order and the Dayton Peace Agreement,” the letter states.
The senators urge the administration to “use all tools at its disposal, including diplomacy and sanctions, to prevent further deterioration of the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina.”
“Specifically, we urge your administration to: expand targeted sanctions against Dodik and his enablers, including additional financial restrictions and travel bans for those undermining Bosnia and Herzegovina’s sovereignty and democratic processes.”
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They also call for increased diplomatic engagement with Bosnia and Herzegovina, including the appointment of a special envoy for the Western Balkans to coordinate policy.
“To work closely with European allies and partners to present a unified international stance against secessionist threats, including considering the readiness of the EUFOR Althea mission to address potential security threats, and to strengthen the statement of the U.S. chargé d’affaires in Bosnia and Herzegovina by publicly and unequivocally reaffirming at the highest levels that the United States remains committed to Bosnia and Herzegovina’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and multiethnic character.”
The security, stability, and economic prosperity of Bosnia and Herzegovina remain of crucial importance to U.S. interests in the Western Balkans.
Strong U.S. leadership, in collaboration with allies and partners, is essential to counter Mr. Dodik’s destabilizing agenda.
“We stand ready to support the administration’s efforts in this regard and look forward to continued cooperation to advance peace, stability, and democratic development in Bosnia and Herzegovina,” the letter concludes.
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Source: Danas; Foto: Shutterstock, EPA-EFE