Diplomatic Conflict: Americans Asked Schmidt to Resign, He Refused and Said Germans Decide His Fate

(Patria) - American diplomats asked Christian Schmidt to resign from the position of High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Istraga.ba learns from multiple diplomatic sources. However, Schmidt refused this request, stating that Germany, which proposed him for the High Representative post, firmly stands behind him and that only Berlin can decide on his removal.

All of this has been happening over the past two months after Washington reached an agreement with Milorad Dodik and Željka Cvijanović. The result of that agreement should also include the removal of Christian Schmidt from the position of High Representative.

Let us recall, Istraga.ba reported back in July that the Americans were arranging Schmidt's removal and that pressure on the High Representative would continuously increase.

In addition, the U.S. Embassy this year delayed payments of tranches for financing the Office of the High Representative. The OHR was funded by contributions from the European Union (47.68 percent), the United States of America (22 percent), Japan (10 percent), the United Kingdom (6.69 percent), Canada (3.03 percent), the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (2.5 percent), Russia (1.2 percent), and others (6.9 percent). Shortly after that report, Schmidt, in an interview with Dnevni avaz, did not deny negotiations about his departure.

“One portal reported that the great powers are arranging for you to leave the position of High Representative by the end of the year. Do you have any comment on that?

I have heard many concerned comments, and that tells me there are people who want me to stay. My mandate is still ongoing. I will stay until I fulfill it – especially if I can contribute to European integration and the fulfillment of Dayton obligations.

Does that mean you will remain as High Representative until the 2026 elections in BiH?

I cannot guarantee it, but there is a high probability that I will. The integrity of elections also requires an international contribution, and I am ready to provide it,” Schmidt said in response to questions from Avaz journalists.

That the Americans have changed their attitude toward the High Representative is best shown by the statements of their diplomats at the last two sessions of the UN Security Council.

“We recognize the importance of the Office of the High Representative (OHR) in supporting the implementation of the civilian aspect of the Dayton Peace Agreement,” said the U.S. Ambassador to the UN addressing the Security Council on May 6 this year.

From May to October, the OHR lost importance in American diplomacy. In her address to the Security Council, U.S. Representative to the UN Dorothy Shea did not even mention the OHR. Quite the opposite.

“The U.S. no longer follows a policy of nation-building and heavy-handed intervention. Now is the time for local solutions to be found by local actors representing the three constituent peoples of Bosnia and Herzegovina. We call on all peoples of Bosnia and Herzegovina to seize this opportunity for greater stability,” said the U.S. representative to the UN on October 31, 2025.

According to Istraga's information, the survival of the Office of the High Representative is not in question. However, the Americans insist that the OHR no longer use the Bonn Powers and that Christian Schmidt must be removed from the position of High Representative in accordance with the agreement between the U.S. and Banja Luka. That the U.S. now supports the policy of the SNSD was also shown by the latest statement of the U.S. Ambassador to the UN.

“Stability and de-escalation must be a priority. In the last few years, it has faced a crisis. In the last few months, we have worked discreetly to ensure de-escalation. In this context, we welcome the move by the National Assembly of the RS. That is why we lifted sanctions on officials of the Republika Srpska, which will enable stability. Sanctions are not intended to be permanent,” said Dorothy Shea before the UN Security Council.

However, unlike the Americans, the Germans are trying to strengthen Schmidt's position. Berlin, namely, decided to bring its long-time diplomat Christian Helbach out of retirement and send him to the OHR as an advisor to Christian Schmidt. Helbach was the German ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina ten years ago and has extensive diplomatic experience.