During the following months, the US president’s son, Donald Trump Jr., visited the main city of Republika Srpska, Banja Luka.
Subsequently, Dodik gave his approval to the Southern Interconnection pipeline.
Remaining obstacles to the project include EU objections and the fact that a third of the pipeline would be built on state property.
Ownership of Bosnia’s lands and forests remains a thorny postwar issue, as Dodik insists everything on Serb-controlled property belongs to Republika Srpska rather than the Bosnian state.
An official in Sarajevo outlined a possible scenario where Landi, upon taking office, would issue a special law dividing state property between the entities.
This would bring the pipeline closer to reality, and an AAFS official reportedly briefed parliamentarians that the issue would be resolved if Landi took over.
The US has threatened to reconsider its role in the international presence if Landi is not given the job.
It remained unclear on Monday evening if European capitals would give in or coalesce around Troccaz or a third compromise candidate.
The steering board pledged a decision by the end of June, but a participant noted it could be postponed if necessary.
The US State Department declined to comment on Monday because negotiations were still under way.
For the Bosniak majority, the collapse of western cohesion causes worry.
Most view the high representative's office as an essential safety net keeping Bosnia from a return to conflict, despite past inaction.
Ćamil Duraković, a Bosniak survivor of the Srebrenica genocide and current vice-president of Republika Srpska, expressed deep unsettling feelings regarding a potential US abandonment.
"They’re just giving up on everything, including democratic values, for the sake of business," Duraković said.
Duraković shared his concerns about the institutional impact.
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"If the United States doesn’t empower democratic institutions in this country or an independent judicial system, then we are really in trouble."
