Key figures associated with Donald Trump's campaign to overturn the 2020 US presidential election are at the centre of high-stakes negotiations for a major European energy contract, blending business pursuits with geopolitical strategy in the Balkans.
The Pipeline Project and Its Strategic Aim
At the heart of the discussions is the proposed Southern Gas Interconnection pipeline, a critical infrastructure project valued at approximately $200 million (£149 million). Designed to traverse the mountainous terrain of Bosnia and Herzegovina, this 146-mile pipeline would connect the country to a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal on Croatia's Adriatic coast.
The primary objective is to curb the Balkans' heavy reliance on Russian gas. While much of Europe has sought alternative energy sources since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Bosnia still imports almost all of its gas supplies from Russia. This pipeline would enable Bosnia to import energy from the United States and other global suppliers, significantly reducing Moscow's political and economic leverage in the region.
Trump-Linked Lawyers Take the Lead
Representing the little-known US firm AAFS Infrastructure and Energy in the talks are lawyers Jesse Binnall and Joe Flynn. Both were prominent in efforts to challenge the legitimacy of the 2020 election result. Binnall, a Virginia-based attorney, worked on legal actions promoting Trump's baseless claims of electoral fraud and defended the former president in cases related to the Capitol Hill assault. Joe Flynn is the brother of Michael Flynn, Trump's former national security adviser.
This week, Binnall and Flynn held meetings with Bosnian ministers in Sarajevo. In a statement to the Guardian, Binnall described the discussions as "exploratory" and emphasised the project's potential to strengthen Bosnia's energy security. "AAFS is excited about the opportunity to explore how American private capital and expertise might contribute," he said.
The US embassy in Bosnia publicly supported their commercial diplomacy, posting on social media platform X about the meetings to discuss how "American capital and resources" could develop the pipeline.
A Company with No Track Record and a Complex Backdrop
AAFS Infrastructure and Energy presents a curious profile. Corporate records indicate the company was formed just two months ago in Wyoming and has no apparent prior track record in the energy or infrastructure sectors. Its website, adorned with an eagle emblem, claims staff have decades of combined experience but does not name them.
The business push occurs against a convoluted geopolitical landscape involving other Trump-world figures. While Joe Flynn seeks a deal to undermine Russian energy influence, his brother, Michael Flynn, has recently championed the cause of Milorad Dodik, the pro-Putin leader of Bosnia's Serb Republic. Furthermore, Trump's own family has been active in the region, with a previously proposed $500m Trump Tower Belgrade project involving his sons.
The Bosnian foreign ministry stated that its meeting with Binnall and Flynn "reaffirmed the shared commitment to deepening cooperation" on vital infrastructure. With the potential to reshape energy dynamics in Southeast Europe, this $200m pipeline deal highlights the enduring intersection of political networks and international business in the post-Trump era.
