Former members of Donald Trump’s campaign to overturn the 2020 US presidential election are now pursuing a major European pipeline contract in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Jesse Binnall and Joe Flynn, who were involved in efforts to challenge Biden’s victory, have been in Bosnia this week to discuss the $200 million Southern Gas Interconnection pipeline project.
The pipeline is designed to reduce the Balkans’ reliance on Russian gas, connecting Bosnia to a liquefied natural gas terminal on Croatia’s Adriatic coast. Binnall, a lawyer who worked on Trump’s failed legal challenges, and Flynn, whose brother Michael served as Trump’s national security advisor, are representing a little-known US firm called AAFS Infrastructure and Energy in the talks.
While the Bosnian authorities have agreed to have US companies build and operate the pipeline, AAFS has no apparent track record in the industry. Corporate records show it was formed just two months ago in Wyoming. The company’s website features an eagle symbol and claims its staff have “decades of combined experience” in energy, infrastructure and international project development.
The involvement of Binnall and Flynn, who were prominent figures in Trump’s efforts to discredit the 2020 election result, has raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest. However, Binnall insists the US embassy’s support for the company is “consistent with its mission to support American businesses operating abroad.”
The pipeline project is seen as an important initiative to strengthen Bosnia’s energy security and reduce the country’s dependence on Russian gas. But the participation of Trump-linked figures in the negotiations has added a layer of geopolitical intrigue to the deal.
