AAFS Infrastructure and Energy, a US-based company, has announced its plans to construct a gas pipeline in Bosnia and Herzegovina which could significantly challenge Gazprom's stronghold in the European energy market. The pipeline, referred to as the Southern Interconnection, would connect Bosnia and Herzegovina to a liquefied natural gas terminal located on the Croatian island of Krk. This infrastructure is expected to offer an alternative route for gas supplies, moving away from dependency on the TurkStream pipeline, which is currently the sole source of gas supply for the region and predominantly supplies gas from Russia.

The initiative comes as geopolitical tensions surrounding energy supply have heightened, particularly in the wake of the ongoing conflict involving Russia. The project is seen as a vital move to enhance energy security and diversification for Bosnia and Herzegovina while simultaneously exacerbating Gazprom's declining influence in the European market. The Ukrainian Foreign Intelligence Service has articulated that this development would not only provide Bosnia with options for energy sourcing but also play a role in diminishing Russia’s strong grip on energy supplies within Europe.

By advancing this pipeline project, AAFS is supported not only by origins in the United States but also, implicitly, by strategic Ukrainian interests, which seek a broader reduction of Russian energy dependence across Europe. Should the project move forward, it stands to disrupt existing energy supply chains, encouraging a more competitive energy market that could benefit European consumers in the long run, emphasizing the importance of these developments in the context of ongoing energy geopolitical dynamics.