Dodik after U.S. visit claims Dayton Agreement “destroyed”, says secession of RS entity is the best solution

Acting President of Republika Srpska Ana Trisic Babic said the delegation had one of its most productive visits to the United States in recent years, arguing that long-term diplomatic efforts were now yielding results.

“We had a very successful visit to the United States, and I can responsibly say this was one of the most productive high-level visits Republika Srpska has had in recent years,” Trisic Babic said.

She added that Cvijanovic and SNSD leader Milorad Dodik participated in the visit, while Sanja Vulic attended a separate event. According to Trisic Babic, years of political and diplomatic efforts had helped Republika Srpska overcome what she described as a difficult period marked by isolation and sanctions.

She also highlighted the delegation’s attendance at the U.S. National Prayer Breakfast, describing U.S. President Donald Trump’s speech as both encouraging and sobering, before handing the floor to Dodik.

Dodik said the trip was not ceremonial but aimed at demonstrating that Republika Srpska had emerged from a difficult political period.

“This visit was neither protocol-driven nor incidental. It was a substantive stay that showed Republika Srpska has overcome a very difficult period,” Dodik said.

He accused political actors from Sarajevo and some international officials of attempting to weaken Republika Srpska politically, claiming such efforts had failed.

“They have not succeeded in discrediting Republika Srpska through false accusations and complaints across various international forums,” Dodik said.

Dodik said the delegation met with more than 14 U.S. congress members and insisted they acted solely as representatives of Republika Srpska rather than Bosnia and Herzegovina.

He also claimed Cvijanovic met with a U.S. deputy secretary of state and that the delegation held both public and private meetings.

“We held numerous public and private meetings. I cannot disclose some of them, but I want to convey optimism that we have not abandoned our core political goals,” Dodik said.

He further stated that the delegation visited the White House and spoke with a presidential spokesperson, describing the discussions as cordial and focused on Republika Srpska’s political position.

During his remarks, Dodik reiterated his long-standing claim that the 1995 Dayton Peace Agreement, which ended the Bosnian war and established the country’s constitutional structure, had been undermined and could not be restored.

“We believe the Dayton Agreement has been destroyed and cannot be repaired,” he said, adding that separation between Bosnia’s ethnic and political entities would represent, in his view, the “best solution.”

He repeated claims that Republika Srpska has no territorial aspirations toward the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina but argued that political actors in the Federation allegedly seek influence over Republika Srpska.

Dodik also addressed the position of Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina, claiming that several interlocutors in Washington raised concerns about what he described as their unequal political status.

“Many within the State Department, around the White House, and in Congress talk about the unequal position of Croats and consider it visible discrimination against Christians in Bosnia and Herzegovina,” Dodik said.

He added that Republika Srpska would encourage Croat political representatives to more strongly advocate for their constitutional rights.

Dodik again rejected the legitimacy of international High Representative Christian Schmidt, claiming he had discussed potential sanctions against Schmidt and certain Sarajevo-based officials during meetings in Washington. He also repeated criticism of decisions by the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina and international oversight institutions.

Dodik said Republika Srpska was pursuing what he described as a “planned diplomacy,” listing Serbia, Israel, Russia, and the United States as key partners.

“Our paths must lead toward the United States, Russia, Israel, and Serbia. Those are our directions - not Europe,” he said.

He reaffirmed Republika Srpska’s strategic partnership with Russia and expressed support for potential agreements between U.S. President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Dodik concluded by again describing the visit as highly successful and announced plans for further diplomatic activities, including a possible return to the United States.

“I want to declare this visit very successful. We will likely return to the United States as early as March and will probably travel there more frequently,” he said.