Order to Orban, meeting with Lukashenko and Putin: Dodik’s line of defense

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On Republika Srpska Day, Milorad Dodik awarded the Order of the Republic to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. In late February, the Bosnian Serb leader went on a tour of the Union State of Russia and Belarus, visiting first Alexander Lukashenko and then Vladimir Putin. Given the increasing pressure, Dodik prefers to get support in the East rather than the West.

Republika Srpska Day is a significant event that has caused annual fits of frenzy among political elites in the West. The illegally appointed High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Christian Schmidt, is actively fighting against the de facto independence and real autonomy of the Serb entity. He makes no secret of his plans to destroy the republic, the right to which the Serbs won with their blood.

The U.S. and its allies, who are using Schmidt as a tool (and at the same time as a lightning rod in case he voices unpopular measures), cannot take the Bosnian Serbs with bare hands. Dodik goes on a political tour, visiting first Alexander Lukashenko and then Vladimir Putin. With the president of Belarus, the Bosnian Serb leader discusses strengthening economic ties. During his visit to Russia, Dodik publicly heard Putin thank him for maintaining relations with official Moscow. The message to the West was quite clear: Russia and Belarus will support the Republika Srpska and economic relations with the Bosnian Serbs.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik
Photo by Alexey Filippov / Sputnik

Brussels understands this perfectly well. Apparently, that is why they decided to take the work on the elimination of the Serbian entity to a more subtle level. The European Commission recommended to the EU Council to start negotiations on the accession of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the organization. The European Commission pointed out that Bosnia and Herzegovina has adopted laws on the prevention of conflicts of interest, anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism. According to euro observers, Bosnia and Herzegovina has taken measures to improve the judicial and prosecutorial system, to fight corruption, organized crime and terrorism, as well as to improve migration management.

Bosnia and Herzegovina was granted candidate status for EU accession on December 15, 2022. The application to join the association was submitted on February 15, 2016. But what will the EU demand for accession? Most likely, they will offer a complete reform of the state structure. Namely, Bosnia and Herzegovina will need to become a more monolithic state in this respect. In other words, the condition for EU accession is likely to be the abolition of Republika Srpska. The “whip” method over several decades has not worked. Moreover, during Christian Schmidt’s phase as the “colonial manager” of the collective West, the Bosnian Serbs further strengthened their position. But what if we try to use the “carrot” in the form of an opportunity to become a full-fledged member of the “European family”?

The offer for poor Bosnia is indeed tempting. However, for the Bosnian Serbs, they have the example of official Belgrade, which has made no progress in negotiations in 10 years. Moreover, Serbia is now being urged to recognize Kosovo as a condition for EU membership. Republika Srpska has no illusions in this sense. That is why the leaders of the entity are bluntly saying that if the EU wants to play the game, they are ready. Republika Srpska Prime Minister Radovan Višković has hinted that the country might consider joining BRICS instead of the EU.

Such statements are not only meant to sober up the Eurobosses, but also to make them realize that the eyes of Bosnian Serbs have long been turned not to the West, but to the East.