NATO’s role in Bosnia and Herzegovina

After the collapse of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, NATO played a decisive role in the positive developments across the Balkans. From 1992 to 1995, NATO actively supported the UN efforts to stop the hostilities in Bosnia and Herzegovina through resolutions and diplomatic negotiations. All efforts by the United Nations to stop the violence in the region through peaceful means proved, however, to be futile. On 30 August 1995, NATO aircraft launched a series of precision strikes against selected targets in Serb-held positions in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The air campaign lasted until 15 September. The success of the air operation, in conjunction with a determined diplomatic effort, helped pave the way to successful peace negotiations, which culminated in  Dayton Peace Accord. To oversee implementation of the military aspects of the Peace Accord, UN-mandated Implementation Force – IFOR was established for one year in Bosnia and Herzegovina on 16 December 1995. Their main task was to guarantee the end of hostilities and separate the armed forces of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, on the one hand, and Republika Srpska, on the other. IFOR played a vital role in opening up airports to civilian traffic, restoring gas, water and electricity supplies. In December 1996, the Implementation Force was replaced by NATO-led Stabilisation Force (SFOR). In addition to maintaining peace and a secure environment, SFOR undertook to facilitate the implementation of the civilian aspects of the Dayton Peace Agreement. SFOR’s activities ranged from forming new government structures, introducing reforms and developing democratic institutions to assisting the return of refugees and displaced people to their homes. The Stabilisation Force (SFOR) was also tasked to arrest individuals indicted for war crimes and bring them before the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia. After restoring safe and secure environment in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the personnel of the NATO peacekeeping mission gradually decreased until the end of 2004 when NATO formally concluded its stabilization force.

On 2 December 2004, the European Union Force (EUFOR) Operation ALTHEA assumed responsibility for maintaining a Safe and Secure Environment (SASE) in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

In close coordination with the European Union, NATO retains a headquarters in Sarajevo with the primary mission of assisting the authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina with with defence and security sector reforms and democratic transition. Bosnia and Herzegovina was invited to join the Membership Action Plan and is one of the aspirant countries of NATO.