One of the leaders of the “MAGA Serbs” movement, Ranko Ristić, stated that lifting sanctions on officials and companies from Republika Srpska is a very complex process, but that during the administration of Donald Trump, it could become feasible if appropriate measures are taken.
Ristić pointed out that it is no secret that many individuals in the current administration of Joseph Biden are not friendly toward Serbs. Therefore, the hope is justified that Trump’s return to power in January next year would bring significant improvements.
He emphasized that Trump is aware of the support from Serbs, adding that credit for this goes to American citizens of Serb origin who supported his campaign, as well as the visible support from Serbia and Republika Srpska.
“Members of Trump’s team are also aware of the support from Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik, who uniquely celebrated the Republican Party’s victory and sent a congratulatory message to President Trump,” Ristić told Glas Srpske.
He stated that with Trump as president, one can almost certainly expect significant changes in U.S. global policies, with the primary challenge being how quickly he can appoint his people to new positions.
“In terms of policy towards the Balkans, I believe there won’t be rapid, overnight changes, but there will certainly be room for negotiations about a fairer and more balanced policy toward Serbs in the Western Balkans. How much can be achieved in this regard will depend on many factors in the U.S., as well as the politicians in Republika Srpska and Serbia,” Ristić emphasized.
He noted that the U.S. State Department is a large, cumbersome administrative system that still contains remnants of anti-Serb propaganda from the 1990s.
“I think President Trump understands that strategic depth changes are necessary, especially given that he has already served as president for four years, meaning he has significant experience and knowledge of deeper issues,” Ristić added.
Ristić, who participated in a panel discussion at the UN headquarters in May on crimes committed against Serbs, stressed the importance of Serbia and Republika Srpska supporting more online media in English to present historical facts, thus raising global awareness of Serbian suffering.
“I believe the international public will know about Serbian victims as much as we talk about them. We couldn’t tell our story a few decades ago because the only media were CNN and BBC, but now we have various channels to communicate the truth about Serbs,” Ristić said.
He described Bosnia and Herzegovina as resembling an arranged marriage, where those who arranged it impose the will of one party over the other.
The “MAGA Serbs” movement is an organization in the United States that has been actively lobbying and working politically to support the victory of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump.
Source: RTRS
