Rubio, Grassley reiterate US commitment to Bosnia and Herzegovina

In a speech to the US Senate, Grassley stated that he would work with the Trump administration to maintain pressure on Dodik and his allies to respect the peace agreements that ended the violence in 1995. He reminded that the Bosnian genocide occurred "because of people like Dodik" and noted that his predecessor is serving a life sentence for war crimes and genocide.

The senator also mentioned that he had spoken with Bosnian citizens in his home state of Iowa, who raised concerns about developments in Bosnia and Herzegovina. He outlined Dodik’s legal troubles, the controversial laws passed by the RS National Assembly (RSNA) following his conviction, and his calls for Serbs to withdraw from BiH institutions.

"The United States, through Secretary of State Marco Rubio, is already taking action, making it clear that this issue is of great importance to the administration," Grassley said, adding that stability in the Western Balkans has been a priority for every US administration. "America is watching who in the region supports stability and who supports a return to ethnic separatism and potential genocide," he warned, concluding with a historical reference: "Remember, it did not end well for those same people in the 1990s."

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized that Washington is considering various options regarding Bosnia and Herzegovina but made it clear that the country’s dissolution and a new conflict must be avoided. "We do not want any divisions there... The last thing we need is another crisis, and we have already made our stance clear on this," Rubio told Voice of America when asked about his earlier statement that Dodik’s actions undermine BiH’s institutions and threaten its security and stability.

Dodik’s administration in RS has pushed for secessionist moves, attempting to block the work of state-level judicial and law enforcement institutions within RS territory. Rubio stressed that while there may be internal differences in the US approach, one thing remains certain: "This situation in Bosnia must not lead to the country’s breakup or another conflict."

The Secretary of State expressed hope that the US could help prevent a new war in Europe, reinforcing Washington’s commitment to Bosnia and Herzegovina’s stability.