Washington, DC -- Ranking Member Gregory W. Meeks and Europe Subcommittee Ranking Member Bill Keating sent a letter to Secretary of Treasury Scott Bessent and Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressing strong opposition to the Trump administration’s removal of former Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik, his family, and dozens of his affiliates from U.S. sanctions lists. The letter requires the Secretaries to inform Congress about the basis for their decision to de-list Dodik, his family, and his affiliates and how the Trump administration plans to uphold longstanding U.S. policy in the region including to further implement the Dayton Peace Accords.

“For thirty years, the United States has supported and bolstered the Dayton Peace Accords. The removal of these sanctions runs counter to bipartisan foreign policy towards the Western Balkans,” said Ranking Members Meeks and Keating. “It provides destabilizing actors in Republika Srpska, including Mr. Dodik, a free hand in supporting further destabilizing and secessionist rhetoric and undermining Bosnia and Herzegovina’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and multi-ethnic character. Moreso, it raises significant concern regarding this administration’s willingness to stand up to corrupt and pro-Kremlin actors in the Western Balkans”

Full text of the letter is below. A PDF copy is available here.

Dear Secretary Bessent and Secretary Rubio,

We write in strong opposition to the October 29, 2025, announcement that the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control removed former President of Republika Srpska Milorad Dodik, his family members, dozens of his affiliates, and others sanctioned for destabilizing actions in the Western Balkans from the Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) List.

For thirty years, the United States has supported and bolstered the Dayton Peace Accords. The removal of these sanctions runs counter to bipartisan foreign policy towards the Western Balkans. It provides destabilizing actors in Republika Srpska, including Mr. Dodik, a free hand in supporting further destabilizing and secessionist rhetoric and undermining Bosnia and Herzegovina’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and multi-ethnic character. Moreso, it raises significant concern regarding this administration’s willingness to stand up to corrupt and pro-Kremlin actors in the Western Balkans.

For years, Milorad Dodik and his affiliates have engaged in secessionist activity that has undermined the fragile peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Most recently in August 2025, the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina confirmed Mr. Dodik’s conviction on a one-year prison sentence that may be exchanged for a fine as well as a six-year ban on his participation in politics. Mr. Dodik, who is no longer President of Republika Srpska, continues to deny the verdict, further undermining the Dayton Peace Accords, rule of law, and regional stability in the Western Balkans.

Dodik is not alone in stoking secessionist activity in Republika Srpska. Dodik affiliates as well as his family members, including his son Igor Dodik and daughter Gorica Dodik (both delisted in the October 29th announcement), have used their corrupt connections to enrich themselves, depriving the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina of a fair shot and undermining the Dayton Peace Accords and decades of U.S. foreign policy in the Western Balkans. Dodik, his family, and their affiliates deserve a swift response and meaningful accountability for their actions, not leniency.

Given Mr. Dodik’s destabilizing activities have not ceased, we urge your departments to reverse course. We also request answers to the following questions regarding the delisting of Mr. Dodik and dozens of his affiliates from the SDN List by Wednesday, November 26, 2025.

1. Why did the Office of Foreign Assets Control remove Mr. Dodik, his son and daughter, and other affiliates from the SDN List?
2. What change in behavior did each of the individuals and entities delisted in the October 29, 2025, announcement demonstrate to warrant the removal of their names from the SDN List?
3. How does the removal of these individuals from the SDN List further U.S. interests in the Western Balkans and in Bosnia and Herzegovina
4. How does the removal of these individuals from the SDN list further Bosnia and Herzegovina’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and multi-ethnic character?
5. How do the Departments of State and Treasury plan to impose further costs on Mr. Dodik for his destabilizing actions in the Western Balkans?

Despite recent court rulings and continued international pressure, Mr. Dodik’s actions in the Republika Srpska have not changed. It is critical the United States uses all tools at its disposal to put a stop to his destabilizing actions in the region and prevent a deterioration of the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina. This includesimplementing additional financial sanctions and visa bans against Dodik and his network, expanding diplomaticactivity and assistance to strengthen Bosnia and Herzegovina’s fragile peace, and appointing a U.S. Special Envoy for the Western Balkans. With these actions in mind, we look forward to your answers to our questions.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.