The United States (U.S.) Senator Jeanne Shaheen, a member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, during the hearing of Nicole McGraw, nominated by Donald Trump for ambassador to Croatia, spoke about the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), blaming the leader of HDZ BiH Dragan Covic for the halt in the construction of the Southern Interconnection, stating that he “actively blocked this project” seeking ways to use it “to increase his power.” Shaheen asked McGraw whether she is ready to, through discussions with Croatian authorities in Zagreb, put pressure on Covic for the project to be finally completed. She also asked whether McGraw is ready “to call for U.S. sanctions against Covic if he continues to block the implementation of this project.”
Shaheen gave an introductory statement at the hearing on the nominations of Brian Burch for ambassador to the Vatican, Brandon Judd for ambassador to Chile, and Nicole McGraw for ambassador to Croatia. She emphasized the strategic importance of Croatia in the Western Balkans and highlighted its role in supporting NATO operations, strengthening regional security, and advancing energy diversification across Southeast Europe.
Addressing McGraw, Shaheen said that, “whether it is the breakup of Yugoslavia or the ethnic conflicts that followed, the Western Balkans is a region of the world that has too often been neglected, both by Europe and by the U.S.,” and pointed out that it is a region she is “personally very interested in.”
“I think it is of key importance that U.S. foreign policy does not repeat the mistakes of the past. When events on the ground in the Balkans occur, we must respond quickly and effectively. From countering Russian influence to maintaining support for Ukraine – as a NATO ally, Croatia is key to these efforts. Croatia has a uniquely important role in BiH, due to both ethnic and political ties,” she stated.
She especially emphasized that the region, and particularly Croatia, will be of “vital importance” as an energy transit point if Europe wants to stop its dependence on Russian energy.
“I hope that, if you are confirmed, you will support the Dayton Peace Agreement in BiH, as well as pay attention to how Croatia reacts to ethnic events in the country,” she said.
She pointed out that Croatia has a major role in the stabilization of the entire region, “and especially in BiH, where Bosnian Croats are one of the three constituent peoples in the country.” She explained that previous administrations supported the BiH energy sector in order to complete the Southern Interconnection, which would connect the energy infrastructure of Croatia and BiH and would separate BiH from dependence on Russian gas. That way, as she stated, “Croatia would become a regional leader and a simple path would be established for U.S. liquefied natural gas to reach the Western Balkans.”
She emphasized that the delay arose because of Covic “who has actively blocked this project at every step, seeking ways to use the construction of the interconnection to increase his power.”
She then asked McGraw whether, if confirmed, she would, through discussions with Croatian authorities in Zagreb, put pressure on Covic for the project to be finally completed.
McGraw replied that she would engage on that issue and get in contact with the Croatian authorities and the embassy in Sarajevo, stating: “It is very important that we continue to work on building the Southern Interconnection.”
The next question Shaheen asked was: “Will you also commit to calling for U.S. sanctions against Covic if he continues to block the implementation of this project?”
“If I am confirmed, I will certainly inform myself in more detail about it and get back to you with an answer, in order to work with Congress, and especially with you on that issue,” McGraw replied.
