In an exclusive interview for 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.
Blagojevich, visiting Republika Srpska for the first time, emphasized that the trip is deeply personal, as it connects him with the land of his ancestors.
“I feel like I’ve come home. There are many of us in America with Serb roots, and I am truly proud that President Dodik is standing up for the Serb people. He admires President Trump as a strong leader, and I admire President Dodik for the same reason. I’ve experienced genuine Serbian hospitality here, the famous warm welcome,” said Blagojevich.
He stated that the goal of his visit is to inform the global public about what is happening in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“I feel there’s a real bond—not only between President Dodik and myself, but also with President Trump. I was a victim of a politically weaponized justice system—I served eight years in prison. What was done to me, they tried to do to President Trump. And here in Republika Srpska, you have a foreign official with colonial powers. When I return to America, I will tell people what is happening here. Democracy is not just in crisis in America—it’s a problem in Europe too,” Blagojevich emphasized.
“A politically motivated justice system”
When the first-instance verdict against Dodik was announced for allegedly failing to comply with decisions made by High Representative Christian Schmidt, his legal team emphasized the importance of raising international awareness of the case.
Dodik commented that what Blagojevich experienced in the U.S. was essentially a test-run of the legal machinery that would later be used against Trump—and now, in a similar way, against himself.
“This is purely a politically motivated, weaponized judiciary. It’s the last resort of those who no longer know how to retain power. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, that malignant influence has gone even further. A foreigner arrives, makes a decision, and it becomes law—even if it violates the Constitution. And if you oppose it, even though you’re democratically elected by the people—you’re the one held guilty,” Dodik said.
He believes his only fault was publicly supporting Donald Trump early on.
“Obama’s administration sanctioned me two days before Trump’s inauguration. On the day Trump won the election, thousands of people gathered in celebration. I greeted them wearing a MAGA hat, 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 America was against us. But now, we’re not allowed to express that love. We’re not asking the U.S. to favor us—only to recognize our rights. We refuse to be a playground for their bureaucrats who come here and rewrite the rules to our detriment. That’s not the America we love. We love the America Trump represents—because he speaks about true values,” Dodik said.
“Time for a new partnership”
When asked how aware the American public is of the region’s history of being bombed and the current sanctions against the entire political leadership of one of BiH’s constituent peoples, Blagojevich responded:
“The American people don’t know what’s going on here. For them, Republika Srpska is a small place, in a far-off corner of the world. But we will do everything we can to inform them—including President Trump and key U.S. decision-makers. I believe the time has come for a new strategic partnership between Republika Srpska, the Republic of Serbia, and the United States. I’ll use every opportunity to promote American national interests, because Trump supports Judeo-Christian values in the Western Balkans. Just as Israel protects those values in the Middle East, here in BiH we’re facing a soft form of anti-Christian pressure that targets Christians—and this hasn’t been highlighted enough in the U.S.,” said Blagojevich.
Deportation concerns and global dynamics
Dodik also addressed public fears in Republika Srpska regarding the possible deportation of migrants from the U.S.
“I was referring to migrants coming from the EU and the Islamic world—people driven by poverty, but also criminals. ISIS may be defeated, but it hasn’t been destroyed, and many of its fighters made their way to Europe, posing a real security risk. As for the U.S., Trump never encouraged Muslim migration. Those who talk about deportations are referring to people from South America. They’re not Islamists, but some may be criminals. To support Trump’s policy, we’re open to discussing temporary stays—but only under mutual agreement. With Trump, such agreements would be respected. With Europe—they are not,” Dodik said.
He also reflected on his recent impressions from Russia:
“Only great and sovereign powers, like the U.S. and Russia, can truly act on the global stage. It’s important that these powers cooperate. I see that Trump and Putin communicate frequently, which gives me hope that critical global flashpoints will be resolved through dialogue. Without dialogue, arrogance builds—and that can lead to disaster. I believe Trump is a man of peace. If he chose to intervene in Iran, it was to prevent catastrophe. Trump said Putin would be the ideal negotiator to end the Iran-Israel conflict. Europeans are less relevant. I’m encouraged by this level of engagement. If Trump and Putin do eventually meet—it will signal that solutions are agreed upon, and that the world is moving toward full stabilization,” Dodik concluded.
“Wars won’t end—but peace must be preserved”
When asked whether he expects such a meeting to happen soon, Blagojevich said he does not believe all global conflicts will end.
“I don’t believe that all wars will stop—human nature won’t allow that. But our responsibility is to preserve peace wherever we can. In both world wars, we were allies. Both Trump and Dodik are strong individuals with clear values, and both endured the weaponization of the legal system. That kind of relationship can be promising and long-lasting. The Serb people believe in family, faith, and hard work—and the Trump administration respects those same values,” Blagojevich concluded.
Source: Newsmax Balkans
