Figures closely linked to Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 US presidential election are at the centre of negotiations for a major European energy contract, in the latest blend of business and geopolitics involving the former president's circle.
Key Players in Sarajevo Talks
Jesse Binnall, an attorney who worked on legal actions promoting Trump's baseless claims of a stolen election, and Joe Flynn, who also campaigned to undermine Joe Biden’s victory, have been in Bosnia this week. They are representing the little-known US firm AAFS Infrastructure and Energy in discussions about building the Southern Gas Interconnection pipeline.
The proposed pipeline, estimated to cost around $200m (£149m), is designed to lessen the Balkans' heavy reliance on Russian gas. While much of Europe has reduced imports since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Bosnia still imports almost all its gas from Russia.
Binnall confirmed to the Guardian that meetings with Bosnian ministers were "exploratory" and that the $200m contract has not yet been awarded. He stated the project could "strengthen Bosnia and Herzegovina’s energy security and reduce regional dependence on Russian gas."
A Pipeline for Energy Independence
The 146-mile pipeline would run through the mountains of Bosnia and Herzegovina, connecting the country to a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal on Croatia’s Adriatic coast. This link would allow Bosnia to import energy from the United States and other global suppliers, directly reducing Moscow's political and economic leverage in the region.
The US embassy in Sarajevo has been actively supporting the company's efforts. It posted on social media platform X about Flynn and Binnall's meetings with Bosnian leaders "to discuss how American capital and resources can develop and operate" the pipeline.
When questioned about a potential conflict of interest due to their political links, Binnall said the embassy's support was consistent with its mission to assist American businesses abroad, emphasising that AAFS is a private company using standard channels.
Connections and Contradictions
The involvement of Trump-linked individuals reveals complex geopolitical crosscurrents. AAFS Infrastructure and Energy was incorporated just two months ago in Wyoming and has no apparent track record in major energy projects.
Meanwhile, Joe Flynn's brother, Michael Flynn – Trump’s former national security adviser who was pardoned after a conviction for lying to the FBI – is now advocating for Milorad Dodik. Dodik, the pro-Russian leader of Bosnia’s Serb Republic, is one of Vladimir Putin's staunchest European allies.
This places the Flynn brothers on opposing sides of the US-Russia struggle for influence in the Balkans. Furthermore, Trump himself lifted US sanctions on Dodik last year, and his family has previously pursued major property ventures in the region.
The Bosnian foreign ministry stated that a meeting with the minister, Binnall, and Flynn "reaffirmed the shared commitment to deepening cooperation" on vital infrastructure projects, signalling official interest in the proposal.
