The US Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Michael Murphy, met on Thursday with the leader of the Croat HDZ BiH party, Dragan Covic, urging him to take the necessary steps to free BiH from dependence on Russian gas.

After meeting earlier in the day with the leaders of five Croat parties that are in opposition to the HDZ BiH, the US ambassador had a separate meeting with Covic. After the meeting, the US Embassy said on the social network X that Murphy underscored his government's support for BiH's territorial integrity, sovereignty and multiethnic character.

Murphy also expressed US concerns about rhetoric and actions by officials from the Republika Srpska (RS) entity that undermine the Dayton peace agreement and BiH and highlighted the need for efficient, effective, and accountable governance in the Bosniak-Croat Federation entity that benefits all its residents.

The US ambassador urged Covic and HDZ BiH “to support measures in the Federation that create the conditions for robust private sector-led economic growth, promote reconciliation, and end BiH’s dependence on Russian gas.”

The US had earlier criticised Covic for insisting on establishing a new company to carry through a project aimed at connecting the gas supply networks of Croatia and BiH. It said that this was against US strategic interests and indirectly favouring Russian influence in the country.

Covic insists that the Southern Interconnection project should be carried out by a company based in Mostar, baselessly claiming that the Sarajevo-based BH-Gas company is not fit for this job because of poor business management and the fact that no Croats are employed in it.