US Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Michael Murphy, has underscored the urgency of the Southern Interconnection project as a means to reduce Bosnia’s dependence on Russian gas, citing political obstructions that have hindered its progress. Ambassador Murphy specifically criticized Dragan Covic, leader of the Croat Democratic Union in Bosnia (HDZ BiH), whose demands he views as a primary roadblock to advancing this critical energy initiative.

In an interview with Oslobodjenje daily, Murphy reiterated the essential role of the Southern Interconnection in diversifying Bosnia's energy sources and reducing reliance on Russian supplies. He pointed out the significant risks associated with the country’s complete dependence on Russian gas, noting that such reliance exposes Bosnia to potential political and economic manipulation.

“This country is 100 percent dependent on Russian gas, which leaves it vulnerable to blackmail. We know from history that Russia abuses this monopoly both politically and economically, as we saw last summer,” Murphy stated, directing sharp criticism toward Covic, whom he described as an impediment to resolving this vulnerability.

Ambassador Murphy highlighted that the Southern Interconnection law, passed in December 2021 with HDZ support, is a necessary step toward securing Bosnia's energy independence. The law still requires final approval in the Federation (FBiH) entity’s Parliament.

“There is no sign that the Federation government is advancing this effort. If there’s a lack of leadership from the government, then the FBiH Parliament must step up,” Murphy said. “This is about protecting FBiH citizens from Russian coercion and creating opportunities for economic growth that this project would bring.”

The call for Bosnia to reduce its dependency on Moscow’s gas mirrors the actions taken by numerous European nations that diversified energy supplies after Russia invaded Ukraine. However, Bosnia remains one of the few in Europe entirely reliant on Russian natural gas.

Previous warnings from US officials

James C. O’Brien, Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, previously expressed concern over Bosnia’s energy dependency during a visit to Sarajevo. He warned that without alternative supplies from the West, Bosnia risks falling behind and becoming increasingly vulnerable to pressure from Moscow.

Ambassador Murphy also reminded that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken had urged the Croatian and Bosnian foreign ministers to press Covic to stop obstructing the gas connection between Croatia and Bosnia, a project seen as crucial for US national security interests and those of both Bosnia and Croatia.

Nearly a year after Blinken’s letter advocating action, the law supporting the Southern Interconnection remains stalled. Covic’s “delaying tactics” continue to prevent Bosnia from breaking free of Russian energy dependence, posing a long-term security risk to the country, Murphy warned.