NATO is deploying a reserve battalion to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) in an effort to bolster the ongoing ALTHEA mission conducted by European Union force EUFOR, Denis Zvizdić, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives of BiH and former Prime Minister, announced on X.
This development follows a meeting in Brussels between Denis Bećirović, the Chairman of the three-member Presidency of BiH, and Jens Stoltenberg, the Secretary-General of NATO. Bećirović sought NATO’s proactive engagement in the country, which has now culminated in the decision to deploy the battalion.NATO u BiH šalje bataljon rezervnih snaga kao podršku vojnoj misiji EUFOR Althea.
— Dr Denis Zvizdić (@DrZvizdic) April 10, 2024
Dugo očekivana i strateški izuzetno važna odluka za gašenje secesionističkih i iredentističkih ideja i očuvanje mira i stabilnosti.🇧🇦🇪🇺 pic.twitter.com/cikEt97JDC
Stability at riskGood meeting with Chairman of the Presidency Becirovic of our partner Bosnia-Herzegovina to increase cooperation. #NATO strongly supports your sovereignty & territorial integrity. All political leaders must work together to preserve unity & safeguard national institutions. pic.twitter.com/Pvi6vJGCIB
— Jens Stoltenberg (@jensstoltenberg) April 8, 2024
The political atmosphere in BiH has been tense, especially with the President of the Republika Srpska, the predominantly Serb entity within BiH, repeatedly threatening secession. In February 2023, Milorad Dodik expressed his desire for Republika Srpska to become an independent country during an interview with Russia Today. The United States and the United Kingdom are currently enforcing sanctions on Dodik for threats to breach the Dayton Peace Agreement, which outlines BiH’s sovereignty.
NATO’s deployment to BiH represents a critical step towards ensuring the region’s stability and thwarting any attempts to disrupt the peace established in the aftermath of the Balkan conflicts. This move reaffirms the international community’s commitment to the security and integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
