US warns Bosnia over Russian gas ties

The United States says it will closely monitor officials in Bosnia and Herzegovina who put political interests ahead of energy security.

The State Department made the comment after officials from Bosnia’s Serb-led Republika Srpska entity held talks with Russia’s Gazprom in St Petersburg.

It said Bosnia could not afford delays as the European Union moves to phase out Russian gas by late 2027.

Republika Srpska officials are pushing a planned 500-million-euro gas pipeline that would connect the entity to Serbia’s gas network.

Bosnia currently receives all its gas from Russia through Serbia.

The United States has backed a rival pipeline project through Bosnia’s other entity, the Federation, which would bring gas from Croatia’s LNG terminal on Krk island.

Washington says the project would reduce Bosnia’s dependence on a single gas supplier.