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In an exclusive interview with Newsmax Balkans, former governor of the U.S. state of Illinois Rod Blagojevich and President of Republika Srpska Milorad Dodik discussed, among other topics, the current political situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
25.06.2025. 10:39
Rod Blagojevich is visiting Republika Srpska for the first time, which he says is an opportunity to visit the land of his ancestors.
“I feel like I’ve come home. There are many of us in America with Serbian roots, and I’m truly proud that President Dodik is standing up for the Serbian people here. He admires President Trump, who is a strong leader, and I admire President Dodik for the same reason. I am here in the homeland of my ancestors, and I’ve received a warm welcome – the famous Serbian hospitality,” said Blagojevich.
The purpose of his visit, he said, is to inform the global public about what is happening in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“I feel there’s a real connection, not just between President Dodik and me, but also with President Trump. I’m a victim of a politicized judiciary – I served eight years in prison. What they did to me, they tried to do to President Trump. Here in Republika Srpska, you have a foreigner, a German, with colonial powers. When I return to America, I will tell people what is happening here. Democracy is not just under threat in America, but in Europe as well,” Blagojevich stated.
When the first-instance verdict was issued against Dodik for failing to implement the decisions of High Representative Christian Schmidt, his defense argued it was crucial for the global public to be informed of the case.
Dodik stated that what Blagojevich experienced was a rehearsal by the American judicial system for what they intended to do to Trump.
“This is purely politically motivated, instrumentalized justice. It’s the last resort of those who don't know how to hold on to power. Here in BiH, the malign influence has gone even further. A foreigner comes, makes a decision, and it overrides the Constitution. They judge based on decisions made by a foreigner not appointed by the UN Security Council. If you oppose that, even though the people elected you, you’re the one to blame,” Dodik pointed out.
According to him, his only "guilt" lies in having supported Donald Trump during his first presidential campaign.
“Barack Obama's administration imposed sanctions on me two days before Trump’s inauguration. On the morning of Trump’s victory, several thousand people gathered. I greeted them wearing a MAGA (Make America Great Again) cap, and that evening, we lit up an entire building with the U.S. flag and Trump’s image. Serbs have always loved America, even when it was against us, but now they won’t allow us to express that love. We’re not asking America to cheer for us, only to recognize our rights – not to be an experiment for bureaucrats who come here and change the rules to our detriment. That’s not the America we love. We love the America Trump represents, because he stands for real values,” said Dodik.
Foto: Tanjug/Srna/Borislav Zdrinja
A Newsmax Balkans reporter asked Blagojevich how aware Americans are that the region was once bombed, and that the entire political leadership of one of the constituent peoples in BiH is under sanctions.
“The American people don’t know what’s happening here, because Republika Srpska is a small place in a remote corner of the world as far as they’re concerned. We’ll do everything to inform the American public – including President Trump and senior officials – about what’s going on. I believe it’s time for a new strategic partnership between Republika Srpska, Serbia, and the United States. I will take this opportunity to promote American national interests, because Trump supports Judeo-Christian values in the Western Balkans. Just as Israel defends these values in the Middle East, there’s unfortunately anti-Christian pressure here in BiH that is persecuting Christians in a ‘soft’ way. That hasn’t been emphasized enough in the U.S.,” said the former Illinois governor.
Dodik also commented on public fears in Republika Srpska regarding the potential deportation of migrants from the U.S.
“I was speaking about migrants from the EU and the Islamic world – people driven by poverty, but also some criminals. ISIS has been defeated, but not destroyed, and many such individuals have come to Europe, posing a security risk. As for the U.S., Trump never called for deporting Muslim migrants. The ones facing deportation are mostly from Latin America. They aren’t Islamists, but some may be criminals. To support Trump’s policy, we can discuss temporary stays. If we reach an agreement with Trump, that agreement will be respected. With Europe, there is no such respect,” said the Republika Srpska leader firmly.
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AutorIn a conversation for the program Stav regiona, he also shared impressions from his recent visit to Russia.
“Only great and sovereign states, like America and Russia, can be truly great. It’s important to us that global powers cooperate. I see that President Trump and Vladimir Putin communicate often, and that gives hope that urgent global hotspots will be resolved through dialogue. If you don’t negotiate, arrogance accumulates – and it can lead to disaster. I believe Trump is a man of peace. If he chose to intervene in Iran, it was to prevent a catastrophe. Trump said Putin would be the ideal negotiator for ending the Iran-Israel conflict. Europeans are less relevant. I’m encouraged by that kind of relationship at the highest level. If Trump and Putin eventually meet – it would signal they’ve reached agreements and that the world is moving toward complete stabilization,” Dodik concluded.
When asked whether he expects this meeting to happen soon, Blagojevich said he doesn’t believe it will result in an end to all global conflicts.
“I don’t believe all wars will cease – human nature doesn’t allow that. However, it is our responsibility to preserve peace as much as we can. In both World Wars, we were allies. Both Dodik and Trump are strong men with clear values, and both have experienced politicized justice. That kind of bond can be promising and long-term. The Serbian people believe in family, faith, and hard work – and the Trump administration values family and hard work,” Blagojevich emphasized.
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