Washington, D.C., October 16, 2025 — A quiet but well-funded influence campaign is underway in Washington to rehabilitate the image of Milorad Dodik, the pro-Putin leader of Bosnia’s Serb-dominated Republika Srpska—and key figures in Donald Trump’s orbit, including Rudy Giuliani, are at the center of it.
According to internal documents and interviews with lobbyists, U.S. officials, and Balkan analysts, Trump-aligned operatives have been working for months to reframe Dodik—not as a destabilizing nationalist accused of undermining Bosnia’s sovereignty—but as a “victim of Western political persecution.”
Who Is Milorad Dodik?
Dodik, president of Republika Srpska—one of Bosnia’s two semi-autonomous entities—has long advocated for secession from Bosnia and Herzegovina. He maintains close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin and has repeatedly defied rulings from Bosnia’s constitutional court and international peacekeepers.
The U.S. and EU have sanctioned Dodik for obstructing the Dayton Peace Accords, which ended the Bosnian War in 1995. In 2022, the U.S. Treasury labeled him a threat to regional stability.
Trump Network Steps In
Despite this, a lobbying effort spearheaded by Giuliani and several former Trump administration officials has sought to soften Dodik’s image in Washington. Their pitch? That Dodik is being unfairly targeted by “globalist elites” and that his push for Serb autonomy is a legitimate democratic movement.
“He’s not a separatist—he’s a patriot defending his people’s rights,” Giuliani reportedly told a group of conservative donors in Florida last month.
Giuliani, who has no registered foreign lobbying contract related to Bosnia, has nonetheless met with Dodik multiple times since 2023 and appeared alongside him at events in Belgrade and Banja Luka.
Behind the Messaging
The campaign relies heavily on familiar Trump-era talking points:
- Framing international courts as “anti-democratic”
- Equating U.S. sanctions with “regime change” tactics
- Portraying Dodik as a “strongman” standing up to Brussels and Washington
These narratives have found traction in right-wing media outlets and think tanks with ties to the MAGA movement. One recent op-ed in a conservative policy journal described Dodik as “the Viktor Orbán of the Balkans”—a comparison meant as praise.
Why Now?
Analysts say the timing is no coincidence. With Bosnia’s local elections approaching and growing unrest in the region, Dodik’s allies see an opening to legitimize his agenda ahead of a potential Trump return to the White House in 2026.
“If Trump wins, they believe the U.S. will ease pressure on Dodik and possibly lift sanctions,” said Dr. Lejla Huremović, a Balkans expert at the Atlantic Council. “This lobbying is about planting seeds now for a policy shift later.”
U.S. Officials Raise Alarms
Current State Department officials, speaking anonymously, expressed concern that the campaign could embolden separatist forces in Bosnia and weaken NATO’s southeastern flank.
“Dodik isn’t being persecuted—he’s persecuting Bosnia’s multiethnic institutions,” said one senior diplomat. “Rewriting that narrative is dangerous.”
Key Players in the Influence Campaign
| Name | Role | Connection to Trump |
|---|---|---|
| Rudolph W. Giuliani | Informal advisor, public advocate | Former personal lawyer to Trump |
| Joseph diGenova | Legal strategist | Trump-aligned attorney |
| Republika Srpska Liaison Office | Unregistered advocacy hub | Funded by Dodik’s inner circle |
| Freedom & Sovereignty Institute | Think tank promoting “anti-globalist” causes | Staffed by ex-Trump campaign aides |
[INTERNAL_LINK:Balkans-Geopolitics] remains a volatile region, and U.S. political infighting over figures like Dodik could have far-reaching consequences.
