Dodik's lithium offer to Trump aims to ease international tensions

• Milorad Dodik, the President of Republika Srpska, has been sentenced, pending appeal, to one year in prison for obstructing decisions made by the High Representative of the International Community in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH).
• Dodik plans to offer Donald Trump access to lithium deposits situated in Republika Srpska.
• The President openly admits he expects "a reduction of the international pressure exerted on him" in exchange.

Dodik criticised the European Union for a "lack of understanding of what is happening in Bosnia and Herzegovina," suggesting that this insight is found in some right-wing parties across Europe. The pro-Russian President of Republika Srpska also mentioned that he "believes he will soon have the opportunity to establish better relations with the USA, from which he expects a decrease in pressure on the predominantly Serb part of BiH", according to the Bosnian newsroom of television N1.

The President confirmed his readiness to offer Trump the management of the lithium deposits located in Republika Srpska. These resource deposits in eastern BiH were confirmed at the end of 2024, although their total quantity has not yet been fully assessed.

Dodik assured that even if he is finally convicted, he will not abandon his political career.

The court of first instance in Sarajevo sentenced Dodik at the end of February to one year in prison and barred him from holding public office for six years for obstructing the implementation of decisions made by the High Representative of the International Community in BiH, Christian Schmidt. This institute oversees the implementation of the Dayton Peace Agreement, which concluded the war in the 1990s. On Saturday, the President's defence lodged an appeal against the verdict.

The decision has triggered one of the most significant political crises in the country since the end of the war.

Following the announcement of the verdict, the Republika Srpska parliament passed several laws prohibiting the operation of certain BiH central institutions, including courts, the prosecutor's office, and federal police, on its territory. After Dodik signed these documents, the Constitutional Court of BiH suspended their enforcement on 7 March until a final decision is reached.

The BiH prosecutor's office is investigating an alleged attack on the country's constitutional order against Dodik, the Prime Minister, and the Speaker of the Republika Srpska parliament. Consequently, the BiH court issued a nationwide arrest warrant for the three politicians, all of whom are currently residing in Republika Srpska.

At the beginning of April, Germany and Austria barred major politicians from Republika Srpska, including Dodik, from entering their countries.