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U.S. Deputy Secretary Landau meets Bosnia and Herzegovina Presidency member Cvijanović; cites Southern Interconnection pipeline as energy priority

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Key takeaways

  • Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau met with Željka Cvijanović, Member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
  • The U.S. expressed interest in expanding economic cooperation with Bosnia and Herzegovina.
  • Landau highlighted the completion of the Southern Interconnection gas pipeline as a strategic energy priority.
  • The readout was issued by the Office of the Spokesperson and attributed to Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott.

Follow Up Questions

Who is Željka Cvijanović and what is her role as a Member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina?Expand

Željka Cvijanović is a Bosnian Serb politician who has served as the Serb member of the three‑member Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina since 2022. The collective Presidency (one Bosniak, one Serb, one Croat) is the country’s head of state and is responsible for conducting foreign policy, representing BiH internationally, rotating the chairmanship, and making certain joint decisions (including on defence/military coordination).

Who is Deputy Secretary Christopher Landau and what is his role in U.S. foreign policy?Expand

Christopher Landau is the U.S. Deputy Secretary of State (sworn in March 2025), the State Department’s second‑ranking official; he helps shape and implement U.S. foreign policy, manages Department operations, and represents the United States in high‑level diplomatic engagements. He previously served as U.S. Ambassador to Mexico (2019–2021).

What is the Southern Interconnection gas pipeline and which countries does it link?Expand

The Southern Interconnection (also called the Southern/South Gas Interconnection) is a proposed cross‑border natural‑gas pipeline that would connect Bosnia and Herzegovina’s gas system to Croatia’s gas network and the Krk LNG terminal — routing from Zagvozd/Imotski in Croatia through Posušje into western/central Bosnia, with a branch toward Mostar and Novi Travnik.

What is the current status and expected completion date of the Southern Interconnection pipeline?Expand

As of February 2026 the project has recently cleared long‑standing political obstacles and U.S. partners/companies have been proposed to develop it, but construction had not yet begun and no firm, official completion date has been announced; some Bosnian officials/media have suggested construction could start in 2026, but an authoritative in‑service/completion target is not publicly available.

How would completion of the Southern Interconnection pipeline affect Bosnia and Herzegovina’s energy supply and regional energy security?Expand

Completion would give Bosnia an alternative gas entry point (access to LNG via Croatia’s Krk terminal and the wider European network), reduce reliance on a single supplier (currently Russian gas via TurkStream), diversify supply routes, and strengthen both national and regional energy security — while the scale of benefits depends on pipeline capacity, commercial/operational arrangements and follow‑on investments.

What specific forms of "expanding economic cooperation" might the U.S. and Bosnia and Herzegovina pursue after this meeting?Expand

Practical steps likely include U.S. private investment or concessions to build and operate the Southern Interconnection; long‑term U.S. LNG supply agreements delivered via Croatia’s Krk terminal; U.S. financing, technical assistance and private investment in associated gas‑fired power plants and other energy infrastructure; and broader U.S.–BiH trade and investment promotion tied to these projects. (These are the forms already being discussed publicly.)

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