Bosnia signs up to Trump-linked pipeline to reduce Russian gas dependence

Lead

Bosnia and Herzegovina has signed a deal to construct a gas pipeline backed by investors connected to US President Donald Trump, a project that promises to reduce the country's near-total dependence on Russian gas. The agreement, signed with neighbouring Croatia on Tuesday at a summit in Dubrovnik, comes as the EU prepares to ban energy purchases from Moscow next year.

However, the European Union — which Bosnia is seeking to join — has warned that the Southern Interconnection Agreement could jeopardise the country's accession bid and put at risk more than $1bn in aid due to a lack of transparency around the project, according to Al Jazeera.

The pipeline would connect Bosnia to Croatia's liquefied natural gas terminal on the island of Krk, allowing US gas to reach a country that currently relies on Russia for its entire gas supply, as reported by The Guardian and Deutsche Welle.

Coverage Comparison

The three outlets covering the story all emphasise the potential conflict between Bosnia's energy diversification efforts and its EU aspirations, but each frames the issue differently. Al Jazeera's reporting centres on the EU's formal warning, highlighting the risk to Bosnia's membership bid and the more than $1bn in aid at stake. Deutsche Welle takes a more critical tone, describing the project as potentially "scuppering" Bosnia's EU hopes and questioning the experience of the US company selected as investor. The Guardian's coverage focuses on the broader geopolitical dimension, framing the EU's intervention as a potential "confrontation" with Trump, given the company's connections to the president's inner circle.

All three sources agree on the core facts: the pipeline's strategic importance for Bosnia, the involvement of AAFS Infrastructure and Energy, and the EU's concerns about transparency and procurement procedures.

Key Claims

The agreement aims to relieve Bosnia's reliance on Russian gas, which currently supplies virtually all of its gas imports. Bosnia's Prime Minister Borjana Kristo, who signed the deal alongside Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, described it as a "major step forward" that strengthens energy security and diversifies supply, according to Al Jazeera.

The project is estimated to be worth around $1.5bn and would also include construction of gas-fired power plants aimed at reducing coal-based electricity production, as reported by multiple sources.

The company AAFS Infrastructure and Energy, selected by Bosnian lawmakers in March as the project's investor and developer, has links to individuals close to Trump. According to The Guardian, the company is fronted by Jesse Binnall, a lawyer who previously worked for Trump and defended him against allegations of inciting the Capitol riots, and Joseph Flynn, the brother of Trump's former national security adviser Michael Flynn. Deutsche Welle notes that the firm was only founded in late 2025 and reportedly has no known experience in building pipelines.

The EU has pushed both member states and candidate countries to cut ties with Russian energy following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, as reported by Deutsche Welle.

In a letter sent on 13 April, EU Ambassador to Bosnia Luigi Soreca warned that Bosnia must adhere to its accession obligations when passing energy sector legislation, and that any amendments must be submitted to the bloc for review, according to The Guardian, which saw the document obtained by the Bosnian investigative outlet istraga.ba.

Perspectives

Bosnia's Government

Prime Minister Borjana Kristo has framed the deal as a positive step for energy security, emphasising the benefits of diversifying supply away from Russia.

The European Union

Brussels supports the goal of reducing reliance on Russian energy but insists that infrastructure projects follow transparent procedures and public procurement rules. The EU's warning reflects concerns that the project was awarded without a tender, potentially setting a "dangerous precedent" as Transparency International's Ivana Korajlic told Deutsche Welle.

The US-linked Investor

AAFS Infrastructure and Energy has not publicly disclosed its owners, but its local representative has stated the company plans to invest $1.5bn in the pipeline and other Bosnian infrastructure projects, as reported by The Guardian.

Watchdog Organisations

Transparency International in Bosnia-Herzegovina has warned that avoiding transparent procurement could undermine the rule of law and public trust. Ivana Korajlic emphasised that "avoiding any kind of transparent" process raises serious concerns.

Conclusion

The Southern Interconnection project highlights the tension between Bosnia's urgent need to diversify its energy supply and the EU's insistence on transparent governance. With the EU ban on Russian gas approaching, Bosnia faces a challenge in balancing these competing pressures while pursuing its accession ambitions. The EU's warning suggests that the project's current form may not meet the bloc's standards, leaving the deal's future uncertain.