Bosnia’s RS entity invigorates US lobbying with new €1.5m contract

Data from the US Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) indicates that the firm is tasked with advising on Dayton Agreement obligations and managing relations with the UN, OSCE, EU, and the Council of Europe. Furthermore, McGinnis Lochridge will facilitate contact with US officials and federal agencies while conducting specialized communication campaigns.

Professor Milos Solaja from the University of Banja Luka observed a shift in relations, noting that RS officials are now engaging with higher-ranking US interlocutors. Simultaneously, RS has secured a deal with Washington-based Lucas Compton LLC, worth nearly one million marks (approx €511,291), to promote key political leaders to American media and government audiences.

These initiatives follow the October 2025 removal of U.S. Treasury sanctions on Milorad Dodik, Zeljka Cvijanovic, and 47 others. Since then, RS officials have attended various US sessions, while Dodik maintains that his core political goals remain unchanged. Reports from Detektor suggest that RS representatives, including President-elect Sinisa Karan, may attend events hosted by Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna.

Currently, 14 of the 16 Bosnian entities registered under FARA promote RS interests. While Solaja suggests success depends on upcoming US elections, former Ambassador Branko Neskovic questioned the transparency of the objectives and their high costs. Conversely, BiH Foreign Minister Elmedin Konakovic stated that BiH diplomacy has neutralized secessionist ambitions, asserting that goals like removing the OHR will fail.

Additional controversy surrounds a 4 million dollar contract with the Canadian-based firm Dickens & Madson. The deal allegedly focuses on support for secession and the removal of High Representative Christian Schmidt. This has prompted BiH parliamentarians, including Sasa Magazinovic, to file criminal complaints regarding the use of public funds and potential violations of constitutional order.

Looking toward 2026, RS officials may target events surrounding the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence. While these "Freedom 250" gatherings offer access to political figures for major donors, Solaja believes such participation remains largely symbolic, and Neskovic views it as a tool for domestic political messaging during an election year.