Milorad Dodik, the separatist leader of Republika Srpska in Bosnia & Herzegovina, has publicly offered the entity’s mineral resources to former US President Donald Trump in exchange for guarantees of political sovereignty. The statement, made during a special parliamentary session on May 21, comes amid rising political isolation of Dodik’s SNSD party and mounting legal pressure.
Dodik framed the gesture as a strategic opportunity for the US to secure critical minerals—such as lithium, magnesium, potassium, and boron—amid global efforts to reduce reliance on Chinese supply chains. He claimed the West, particularly Germany, is attempting to strip Republika Srpska of its mineral wealth, with international High Representative Christian Schmidt acting as an “executor” of those plans.
This move follows a 2023 announcement by Swiss firm Arcore AG, which reported uncovering substantial lithium deposits in the Lopare region, sparking both investor interest and local opposition due to environmental concerns.
Despite Dodik’s appeal to the US and Hungary for a strategic mineral partnership, opposition parties boycotted the session, and no response has yet been received from Trump or his circle. Dodik and his family remain under US sanctions, further complicating his overtures.
Dodik emphasized that the offer is conditional: “Give us freedom, confirm our sovereignty, guarantee the Dayton Agreement, our autonomy and independence – and we are partners.”
