Ljubljana's smoke screen on sanctions against Dodik: The US is not the problem, money is

Written by: A. Čorbo-Zećo

The United States has increasingly lost focus on the Balkans in recent years, as Ukraine, the Indo-Pacific, the Middle East and China take precedence. The Balkans thus remain in the category of "periphery of interest," where Washington is mostly satisfied with declarations and occasional pressures, but not with real engagement.

That is why the announcement of "American pressure on Ljubljana" sounds like a smoke screen. The Slovenian government can hide behind the "big brother" (relying on the fact that the pro-Bosnian force is 'weak' on America) and claim it is waiting for the US stance, while the real problem is domestic economic interests and capital from Republika Srpska that has arrived in Slovenia.

after the alibi of the SD was not enough for them, this morning media in Slovenia close to the government are writing about pressure from the US!?

Formally, Slovenia was supposed to impose sanctions on the former president of Republika Srpska and leader of the SNSD, Milorad Dodik. However, the measures will, by all accounts, be limited only to a ban on entry, while his assets and economic ties in the country will not be subject to decisions. But even that seems to be a problem for them!

Professor and researcher Faris Kočan told Patria yesterday that the government is actually "washing its face before international partners" with this decision, while avoiding the real problem:

"If Dodik can be banned from entering, then the problem is not in the laws, but in political will. Assets, however, will not be touched because the government does not want to open the issue of capital linked to Dodik and his circles in Slovenia."

The Slovenian public views this issue as marginal, while pressure for sanctions comes mainly from European institutions and security services. An additional problem is internal political relations; the Social Democrats in Slovenia still see Dodik as a "positive figure," which complicates decisive measures.

The money Dodik has pumped into Slovenia is enormous, and together with similar investments by other Serbian tycoons in the EU, it represents a potential "contamination" of the political scene, both right-wing and left-wing parties.

The conclusion is clear: the Slovenian government's decision on sanctions appears half-hearted – the entry ban symbolically shows activity before the international public, while the real interests remain untouched. It is not about the US, but about money and domestic political-economic relations, in which not only Janković but also half of Golob's government, including him, are involved!