Milorad Dodik, President of Republika Srpska (RS), has issued a stark warning, threatening to withdraw his entity’s support for Bosnia and Herzegovina’s (BiH) path toward European Union (EU) integration. In a statement on Tuesday, Dodik also hinted at forming a stronger alliance with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in the future, underscoring shifting political alignments.
“We now have no reason to back down before anyone,” Dodik declared, adding, “Sarajevo will have to beg if they want something soon.”
Dodik criticized the EU’s handling of BiH, characterizing European leaders as “lost and unsure” and suggesting that the bloc no longer holds a monopoly on viable political and economic destinations. He pointed to BRICS, the economic alliance led by Russia, as an alternative framework, suggesting a potential pivot towards non-Western powers.
“All European values have been trampled and lost,” he said. “Why assume you’re the only destination? After years of blockage and constant silence about what Christian Schmidt [High Representative] and Michael Murphy [U.S. Ambassador] have done in BiH, how do you suddenly expect to have credibility?” Dodik added that he plans to discuss these grievances with ambassadors in Sarajevo.
The comments come amid longstanding tensions, with Dodik frequently advocating for the secession of Republika Srpska from BiH, a move that would violate the Dayton Peace Agreement. His position has received backing from both Moscow and Belgrade, aligning him with Russia’s strategic interests in the Balkans.
Dodik remains under U.S. sanctions for undermining BiH’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, yet he continues to push policies that strain the fragile political landscape in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
