A major diplomatic rift has emerged between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Hungary after Sarajevo denied landing permission to Hungarian Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Trade State Secretary Levente Magyar. The decision was announced by Bosnian Minister of Defence Zukan Helez on his Facebook page, citing Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s continued support for Milorad Dodik, President of Republika Srpska—one of the two autonomous federal entities of Bosnia.
‘I have decided deny permission for the overflight and departure of a military aircraft from Hungary to Bosnia and Herzegovina,’ Helez wrote, adding that he had faced enormous pressure, both international and domestic, over the past three days because of this issue. He then accused Orbán of supporting Dodik and ‘his clique’ in their alleged attempts to dismantle Bosnia and Herzegovina as a sovereign state.
The Hungarian Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Trade stated that State Secretary Levente Magyar was due to travel to Sarajevo and Banja Luka, the capital of Republika Srpska, for official meetings. ‘As the Bosnian government did not grant permission for the flight, the available time only allowed for the visit to Banja Luka. We are seeking an opportunity to hold consultations in Sarajevo,’ the statement read.
Convicted for Protecting Sovereignty
The incident came just days after Dodik was sentenced to a one-year prison term and a six-year ban from holding public office in what many view as a politically motivated trial for ignoring the rulings of High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina Christian Schmidt. The position, which holds supreme authority over Bosnia’s two federal entities, was established by the Dayton Agreement, which ended the Bosnian War in 1995. The high representative—appointed by the Peace Implementation Council, a body consisting of 55 countries and agencies—has the power to impose or annul laws and to remove officials, including judges and political leaders—an extraordinary authority that would be unimaginable in any truly sovereign state.
Without delving too deeply into Bosnia and Herzegovina’s complex statecraft, it is already clear why Serbs seek independence from this fragile entity, which was constructed almost entirely under international pressure rather than through the consent of the three constituent nations—Serbs, Croats, and Bosniaks—who were forced to coexist. Dodik has long been a vocal critic of the Dayton Agreement, viewing Bosnia as an artificial state, and frequently flirts with the idea of independence. This stance directly contradicts globalist objectives in the Balkans, making him a target for removal. The method chosen to sideline him follows a familiar pattern used against several right-wing leaders in Europe and across the Atlantic—including former US President Donald Trump—the weaponization of the judiciary.
Viktor Orbán and Hungary have long been close allies of Republika Srpska and Dodik, while also maintaining appropriate relations with the leadership of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Hungary has been one of the most vocal supporters of Bosnia’s—and the broader region’s—integration into the European Union. Orbán hosted Dodik in Budapest on 17 February, where the two leaders discussed the agenda for political and economic cooperation in 2025. After Dodik’s conviction, Orbán expressed his support for the Bosnian Serb leader, stating: ‘The political witch hunt against President @MiloradDodik is a sad example of the weaponisation of the legal system aimed at a democratically elected leader.’ He added that the decision also threatens the fragile stability of the Western Balkans.
Levente Magyar echoed the same concerns on Monday. After meeting Dodik, the state secretary argued that Bosnia and Herzegovina’s stability was not threatened by the Bosnian Serb leader’s separatist rhetoric, but rather that such rhetoric was a response to foreign interference by Western governments. ‘They are meddling in the country’s internal affairs with colonialist, imperial arrogance, fomenting tensions that have led to war on several occasions in the past,’ Magyar warned, adding that the same forces were working to undermine peace negotiations regarding the war in Ukraine.
Hungary’s Stability Also at Stake
Following the verdict on 26 February, Dodik announced that Republika Srpska would push through new legislation curbing the authority of federal judiciary institutions within its territory. According to Dodik, the work of federal institutions such as the prosecutor general’s office and the highest court will be banned, and Republika Srpska will establish its own judicial institutions. Additionally, most Serbian officials will withdraw from federal institutions. He also sent a clear message to Christian Schmidt: if the high representative enters Republika Srpska’s territory, he will be detained.
While Dodik’s statements may seem alarming at first, they are not unusual. Politicians from Bosnia’s major ethnic groups often employ separatist rhetoric. What makes this situation particularly significant, however, is that it is unfolding at a time when the liberal world order, led by the United States, is rapidly unravelling following Donald Trump’s return to the White House for a second term. This liberal order was the driving force behind Bosnia’s current structure, and as its influence declines, it is unsurprising that the fragile state it established is also weakening.
‘Ensuring stability in the Western Balkans remains a key priority for Hungary’
Nevertheless, stability in the Western Balkans remains a top priority for Hungary and the European Union. Hungary plays a particularly crucial role in maintaining security in the region, having led both NATO’s Kosovo peacekeeping mission (KFOR) and the EU’s peacekeeping mission in Bosnia (EUFOR Althea) in 2021 and 2024, respectively. Hungarian Defence Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky underscored this during a speech at a personnel readmission ceremony on 17 February, stating that the soldiers deployed in EUFOR Althea were stationed in the Western Balkans—‘perhaps the most important region for Hungarian security interests.’ He added: ‘Several wars have erupted throughout the region’s history, and ethnic, religious, economic, and political tensions persist. Ensuring stability in the Western Balkans remains a key priority for Hungary.’
Beyond security, there is also significant potential for economic cooperation between Republika Srpska and Hungary. Last year, as Hungarian Conservative reported, there was considerable media speculation surrounding a potential joint lithium extraction project in Lopare, a village within Republika Srpska. While the project has yet to progress beyond speculation, the significance of critical resources such as lithium continues to grow—especially in light of the still-unrealized minerals deal between the United States and Ukraine. Securing Hungary’s participation in the extraction of the ‘white gold’ beneath Lopare would represent a strategic victory for Hungarian diplomacy and further strengthen the country’s key role in the EU’s green transition.
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