BELGRADE — In response to escalating tensions following recent actions by Milorad Dodik, the leader of Bosnia’s Serb-majority region, the European Union is set to reinforce its peacekeeping mission in Bosnia. Dodik’s controversial decision to ban state-level institutions in Serb regions has raised alarm over potential separatist movements.
The European Union Force Bosnia Herzegovina, known as EUFOR, announced on Friday that it will “temporarily increase the size of its force.” This proactive measure is intended to support Bosnia and Herzegovina, emphasizing that it serves the interests of all citizens within the nation.
Troop increase details and implications
EUFOR specified that the troop increase will take place “in the coming days,” although further details about the deployment were not disclosed. Local media have reported that an additional 400 troops will augment the existing 1,100 personnel deployed as part of Operation Althea, which upholds the peace agreement established after the 1992-1995 conflict.
Dodik, who was convicted in late February for violating the peace agreement, has faced backlash for his actions. His conviction included a one-year prison sentence and a six-year ban from political activities, which Russia has condemned as “politically motivated.” In response, Moscow organized an emergency session of the United Nations Security Council to address these developments.
Regional reactions and historical context
Since the onset of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Dodik has maintained close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin, voicing anti-Western sentiments and asserting that Brussels should not intervene in nations like Ukraine and Bosnia. Bosnia’s trajectory toward joining the EU, having been designated as a candidate country in December 2022, adds another layer of complexity to the situation.
Supporters of Dodik have taken to the streets in protest, and the parliament in the Serb-majority region has enacted laws prohibiting state-level security and judicial operations. This move aligns with Dodik’s longstanding threats to pursue secession should he and his allies face legal action from what he deems “illegitimate” Bosnian institutions. Such rhetoric echoes the conflicts of the 1990s, which resulted in the tragic loss of over 100,000 lives and the Srebrenica genocide of Bosniak Muslims.
“The actions of Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik are undermining Bosnia and Herzegovina’s institutions and threatening its security and stability,” said U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who strongly condemned Dodik’s recent maneuvers. He urged regional partners to unite in countering this “dangerous and destabilizing behavior.”
The peace agreement and constitution established a delicate balance of power among the country’s three main ethnic groups — Croats, Bosniaks, and Serbs. However, Dodik’s current stance has placed Serbs in direct conflict with other factions within the nation, raising concerns over the potential for renewed instability.