Germany to join EU military mission in Bosnia over Russian threat

Euractiv reported the statement.

"The German side would like to visibly strengthen EUFOR in view of the upcoming elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Because overall, the situation has already been very dicey in recent months," said Andreas Wittkowsky, senior researcher at the Centre for International Peace Operations in Berlin.

Germany intends to join the EU mission and send up to 50 soldiers to Bosnia. The reason is the efforts of the Serbian part of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Republika Srpska, to secede from the country, causing concern to the German government.

Due to the war in Ukraine and the confrontation between the West and Russia, there is a danger that the Kremlin can use the current situation "a catalyst for the further destabilisation of Bosnia and Herzegovina", according to the draft decision of the German parliament.

However, the future of the EU mission is currently uncertain. Its mandate is due to be extended by the UN Security Council in November, which means that Russia can impose a veto.

The UN Security Council vote to extend the mission's mandate coincides with secession plans announced by Republika Srpska leader Milorad Dodik.

For some time now, Russia has been trying to challenge the status quo in Bosnia and support the separatist efforts of the Serbs.