In a graffiti-covered Sarajevo side street, a narrow path runs past an untended garden to a white door. This marks the registered address of a firm nearing contracts valued above one billion dollars. AAFS Infrastructure and Energy is close to obtaining rights to construct and run a pipeline through the Balkans that would carry liquefied natural gas from the United States, displacing Russian supplies. One senior Bosnian official described it as potentially the most significant infrastructure project in the country’s history, though several sources requested anonymity when discussing the talks. The company lacks any prior experience with projects of comparable size. Its main assets are links to Donald Trump. One representative is a Washington attorney who has represented the Trump family in political matters. The other is the brother of the former national security adviser. Both participated in efforts to challenge the 2020 election outcome. A Guardian review, drawing on interviews with current and former officials in Bosnia and the United States, along with leaked documents and corporate records, has looked into the little-known entity now involved in global energy competition. The case illustrates how foreign policy under the current administration can blend official goals with benefits for associates of the president. A former senior US diplomat in the region noted that involving politically connected figures in major projects has become common, though the practice raises concerns. In the Balkans the implications extend beyond financial gain. American pressure could affect the 1995 peace agreement that ended a conflict claiming about 100,000 lives. Ethnic leaders in Bosnia continue to seek political advantage. US representatives have made clear that the Trump administration seeks approval for the AAFS pipeline. When contacted at the Sarajevo address, a local representative named Amer Bekan arrived shortly afterward. He stated that the office would soon relocate to a larger facility with around 100 staff. Bekan registered the Bosnian entity in 2021. It gained momentum only after American partners joined last year. The US parent company was incorporated in November and lists an address in a Washington tourist area between a Lebanese restaurant and an Irish pub, which is also the location of Binnall Law Group. Jesse Binnall, a lawyer active in efforts to contest the 2020 results, has represented Trump allies including Michael Flynn. Binnall and Flynn’s brother Joe worked together on initiatives questioning the election. The State Department described the pipeline as a long-standing priority that would diversify Bosnia’s energy sources and reduce reliance on Russian gas. The qualifications of the new partners for such a project remain unclear, yet momentum has increased since their involvement.
