The Guardian: EU intervenes in Trump-linked gas pipeline venture in Bosnia

The Southern Interconnection pipeline is designed to link Bosnia to a Croatian LNG terminal, providing an alternative to Russian gas. However, the project has become a geopolitical flashpoint. AAFS, incorporated only last November with no apparent track record, is led by Jesse Binnall, Trump’s personal lawyer, and Joe Flynn, brother of former national security adviser Michael Flynn.

Despite the company's lack of experience, Bosnian lawmakers recently approved legislation allowing the contract to be awarded to AAFS without a competitive tender. This move prompted Transparency International to warn of a "dangerous precedent." In a private letter dated 13 April, Luigi Soreca, the EU representative in Sarajevo, warned Bosnian leaders that bypassing coordination with Brussels jeopardizes the country’s European integration and access to vital funding.

The Guardian notes that the pipeline would secure a critical piece of the European energy map for a company personally tied to an antagonistic president. While AAFS maintains its focus is on energy security, the project’s rapid advancement under US pressure has raised alarms in Brussels. The situation is further complicated by broader Trump-aligned interests in the region; Michael Flynn recently lobbied for the removal of sanctions against Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik, who now supports the AAFS deal.

As the 2028 deadline to eliminate Russian gas imports nears, the EU faces a difficult choice: accept a US-controlled energy corridor or risk a direct diplomatic clash with the White House.