Democrats prepare oversight probe of Trump-era Balkans energy and sanctions policies

On Tuesday, the Europe panel of the House Foreign Affairs Committee will publish a report that sets the stage for Democratic oversight of the Trump administration’s policy toward the Balkans, assuming the party secures a House majority. Authored by Rep. Bill Keating, the report features a previously unreleased letter raising concerns that the administration encouraged Bosnian officials to grant a $1.16 billion Southern Interconnection gas pipeline contract to AAFS Infrastructure & Energy, a company founded by Joseph Flynn, brother of former Trump adviser Mike Flynn, despite the firm’s lack of energy experience.

The filing also contains the administration’s response to that letter and to a separate protest against the decision to lift sanctions on Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik. The panel, joined by all Democratic members and the committee’s top Democrat, will hold a hearing on the Balkans that same morning. bipartisan legislators have called for sanctions on Dodik and other Serbian officials, warning that recent moves could destabilise the region, while Republika Srpska has reportedly spent at least $9 million to court the Trump administration since his second inauguration.