Trump-linked firm secures $1.5 billion Bosnian gas pipeline contract after sanctions lift
A U.S. company tied to former Trump associates is close to winning a multibillion-dollar gas pipeline deal in Bosnia, following the removal of sanctions on Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik.
AAFS Infrastructure & Energy, a U.S. firm incorporated last year and led by former Trump personal attorney Jesse Binnall and Joseph Flynn, is nearing a contract to develop the Southern Interconnection Gas Pipeline in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The project, estimated at about $1.7 billion, would connect Bosnia to Croatia’s gas network, enabling LNG imports and decreasing dependence on Russian supplies. The deal follows the Trump administration’s decision to lift sanctions on Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik, a step Democrats criticize as favoring Trump-linked interests.
Dodik, whose party holds veto power in the Bosnian parliament, has shifted from opposing the pipeline to endorsing it after AAFS’s involvement was announced. The pipeline has been under discussion for years, and its approval was formalized by Bosnian parliament legislation granting AAFS lead investor status. Critics note the firm’s limited experience in comparable energy projects.
Why it matters
The contract links U.S. political networks to a major Balkan energy project, raising concerns about foreign policy and regional energy security.
How this story developed
- Sep 30 Bosnia's gender quota law masks limited female leadership in election lists
- Oct 4 The proportion of female‑headed party lists fell by 6.1 points compared with the 2022 election.
- Oct 4 Voting began with roughly 3.4 million eligible voters casting ballots.
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