The President of Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik, has threatened to withdraw support for Bosnia and Herzegovina's European path. He also expressed optimism about gaining a strong ally in Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and hopes that the new U.S. President Donald Trump will lift sanctions against him. Dodik asserted that Republika Srpska now has no reason to retreat and stated that "Sarajevo must plead if it wants anything soon."

Dodik discussed Trump's victory and his administration, stating, “They know perfectly well how things were before the election and how we acted afterward. I have to say that we have high expectations, regardless of what those troublemakers in Sarajevo say. They think it's important to laugh at Dodik expecting sanctions to be lifted. I didn't say they will be lifted promptly, but as a man, I have the right to hope it will happen. These sanctions are utterly baseless and not grounded in any facts or evidence. The world is already different today, and it will be even more so after January 20th. In these new circumstances, we plan to establish ourselves. We aren't foolish enough to sit and wait for everything to change while listening to lamentations from Sarajevo. We are not interested. Either you talk to us on equal terms or not at all.”

Dodik went on to criticize the European Union, saying, “The reception of those of us who are not yet EU members has become a geopolitical issue. Why are you telling us this now? You accepted Romania and Bulgaria; compared to them, we are a spaceship when it comes to EU accession. What is happening now? Who are you lecturing about values? All European values have been destroyed. Why do you think you are the only place people should aspire to? After three years of constant obstructions and silence regarding what Christian Schmidt (the High Representative) and Michael Murphy (the U.S. Ambassador) have been doing in Bosnia and Herzegovina, you now want to have credibility? I will discuss this tomorrow with a significant number of ambassadors in Sarajevo.”

He emphasized that he would do everything to “try to establish their position.” “Equally as much as Murphy's and the Democratic Party's positions, which were anti-democratic in every respect, we only want to restore what was lost, nothing more. If ‘Muslims’ are not ready for an agreement on a new Bosnia in the next six months, then there will be no Bosnia,” Dodik said.

Dodik also noted that he believes things will be easier now that Trump has won. “I thought it would be harder if Biden's people won; now it will be easier. The same way Trump was persecuted in America, I am being persecuted here. Both Trump and I face a similarly distorted democratic power. I don't need to meet with him or hear anything specific from him, but if he fights against such a corrupt system, then I will too,” Dodik added.

On the issue of the upcoming session of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Dodik remarked, “I have no idea that it's even happening. I don't have to know about every meeting. It's become pointless for me; none of these meetings will bring anything anymore.”

He also expressed frustration with the European Union's approach, stating, “This fraudulent business of Europe, where they send money and expect us to lose our character, will no longer work. Thank you for your money; you can keep your growth plan and whatever else you want. We are not without resources to solve these problems. Funds have been approved outside the EU for projects in Republika Srpska, amounting to one and a half billion euros, but they pressure us and do not allow us free market access because these are large European banks. We will find a way to bring that money into Republika Srpska. Sarajevo must change its approach quickly. They have been aggressive towards us, only talking about ‘Dodik did this, Dodik did that…’. If they don't start asking nicely soon, they won't get anything.”

Dodik concluded by warning that Republika Srpska might “very soon” abandon the EU path, questioning, “What EU? They can't even handle their own issues.” He also mentioned his pride in Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's stance and expects Orban's policies to become dominant in the EU following Trump's victory.