A growing divide between the United States and Europe over Bosnia and Herzegovina has surfaced through disagreement on a senior administrative position, prompting Washington to threaten reconsideration of its participation in international peacekeeping efforts. The US embassy in Sarajevo issued the warning after European countries declined to support the American choice for the new High Representative. During a recent Peace Implementation Council meeting in Sarajevo, which oversees the 1995 Dayton peace accord, Washington backed Italian diplomat Antonio Zanardi Landi, whereas Britain, France, Germany and other European nations favored French envoy René Troccaz. The Trump administration also pushed to reduce the High Representative’s authority to uphold Dayton principles, which ended a conflict that killed 100,000 people yet left ethnic divisions unresolved. In a statement on X, the embassy noted European failure to agree on a candidate and expressed disappointment that divisions blocked selection of a new representative. It added that European hesitation and the council’s inaction compelled the United States to review its role in the international presence there. Although Washington maintains no large military footprint in Bosnia, where an EU force operates, it retains influence via the council and bilateral ties. The council plans another attempt at consensus later this month, possibly with compromise candidates. One European official suggested the region could gain from reduced US involvement amid doubts about administration motives. Last year Washington lifted sanctions on Milorad Dodik, a Moscow-aligned Serb leader, following a reported multimillion-dollar lobbying effort. The US also urged outgoing High Representative Christian Schmidt to step down after he sanctioned Dodik for challenging the Dayton agreement. Meanwhile, Trump family members and associates have pursued business opportunities in Bosnia, including a visit by Donald Trump Jr. to Banja Luka in April hosted by Dodik’s son. Analyst Jasmin Mujanović observed that the administration appeared to misjudge its leverage over European partners. He noted the Americans assumed Europeans would align without consultation and questioned the strong push for Landi. Kurt Bassuener of the Democratization Policy Council described the choice as strategic rather than merely personnel-related, suggesting it combines ideological and commercial aims focused on securing contracts and concessions.
