Carl Bildt

5️⃣ things to know about Christian #Schmidt’s resignation: 1️⃣ The resignation Schmidt has informed the body responsible for appointing high representatives of his intention to resign, but he has not yet signed the resignation. He plans to stay until a successor has been agreed. Until then, he remains high representative with all associated powers. 2️⃣ The motivation Schmidt publicly cited “private reasons”, but his move follows strong and unprecedented pressure from the 🇺🇸 administration. What ultimately pushed him towards resignation, however, was the lack of support from key European actors. The reasons are both personal and geopolitical. 🇺🇸 pressure became so intense that few senior figures were willing to defend him openly. 3️⃣ The successor Washington appears to have clear criteria for Schmidt’s successor: someone able to work with Banja Luka [and acceptable to Moscow]. One name being promoted is an 🇮🇹 diplomat — seven years older than Schmidt, but four years younger than Trump — with previous postings in Moscow and Belgrade. The 🇺🇸 is expected to push for a rapid succession process, possibly already in June. 4️⃣ The reactions As expected, the announcement was welcomed in Banja Luka as a major victory. For more than six months, #Dodik and his allies have claimed that Schmidt’s departure — together with the lifting of all 🇺🇸 sanctions — formed part of an understanding with the 🇺🇸 administration. Schmidt’s departure, alongside Dodik’s own exit from politics, was also floated informally by 🇷🇸’s President #Vučić last summer. In #Mostar and #Sarajevo, the reaction has so far been marked largely by silence. Privately, few appear genuinely upset about Schmidt’s departure. In Sarajevo, there is concern about the future of the Office. In Mostar, there is cautious optimism about possible new political dynamics. 5️⃣ Going forward The central question is no longer whether the #OHR survives in its current form, but who controls it and to what end. Neither European governments nor Sarajevo appear to have a coherent strategy. Most continue to argue that the Office is indispensable for the survival and functionality of 🇧🇦. Yet this claim is empirically impossible to sustain when looking at the past two decades, and would become even harder to defend in the future if the Bonn Powers were shaped by pro-🇷🇺 and pro-Trump priorities. A weakened 🇪🇺 defending the institution at all costs, without shaping the succession process, risks handing a powerful instrument to actors with very different geopolitical goals. So my quick take 👇🏼 Europeans should oppose the appointment of a new high representative, keep Schmidt in office until after the elections, and then discuss the orderly closure of the Office together with the newly elected Presidency.

Strong leadership from @BenjaminDousa. Sweden’s SEK 2.7+ billion humanitarian commitment for 2026—early, flexible, and +85% aligned with our IASC Hyper-Prioritized plan to save #87MillionLives. Thank you Sweden 
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