Trump diplomatic nominee shaped a pro-Russia Balkans policy
The Scoop President Donald Trump’s nominee for US ambassador to Azerbaijan has played a leading role in his administration’s headline-grabbing alignment with a pro-Russian government in the Balkans, more than half a dozen people familiar with his involvement told Semafor.
Key points
- Senators had eyed a hearing as soon as Tuesday on whether to confirm Alexander Alden, currently a senior adviser to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, to the high-stakes diplomatic job.
- The ruling party in Republika Srpska is helmed by Milorad Dodik, a Bosnian Serb who was under US sanctions for undermining peace in the region until Trump lifted them last year.
- A third person expressed concern that “over the next two years, we’re going to see Dodik move for secession … as a consequence of some of the policy decisions that Mr.
IIt’s not clear why Alden didn’t make the cut this time — but whenever he does appear, he’s likely to face questions about his behind-the-scenes advocacy for Republika Srpska, a Russia-linked territory in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Additional details
- With Democrats readying to take control of the chamber next year, Republicans are under growing pressure to advance Trump’s nominees in the lame-duck session.
- Lawmakers in both parties have urged Trump to reimpose the sanctions as Dodik continues his calls for Republika Srpska to secede.
- “If these allegations are true, it shows incredibly poor judgment,” which “would be of concern for anyone becoming a US ambassador,” said Jim O’Brien, who served as assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian affairs during the Biden administration.
- Five of the people said that Alden traveled to Bosnia in June for meetings of the region’s Peace Implementation Council, where he threatened European officials in attendance to approve the US’ choice to lead the region’s Office of the High Representative.
- Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Western Central Europe and Southern Europe Dan Lawton led the delegation, but “it was clear [Alden] was the guy in charge [and] he wanted to force this guy through,” a fourth person said.
How this summary was made: extractive summary — built from the sources' own reporting. It is drawn only from the reporting of the sources listed below — read the originals for full detail. How we summarize →
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