NATO's Role in Bosnia and Herzegovina

On December 2, 2004, the nine-year NATO-led Stabilization Force (SFOR) mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina concluded successfully. NATO’s intervention in the Bosnia conflict--using force for the first time in Alliance history--led to the Dayton Accords and put an end to a costly and destructive conflict in the heart of Europe.

In the nine years that followed the intervention, over 500,000 servicemen and women from 43 nations and every continent, including 90,000 Americans, served in Bosnia and Herzegovina without losing a single soldier to hostile action.

The people of Bosnia have welcomed a continued international security presence as they take the remaining steps on the path toward integration into a Europe whole, free, and at peace. The European Union (EU) has established a military mission, Operation ALTHEA, to provide this support.

Initially, the EU will have 7,000 soldiers, the same size as SFOR at its conclusion, and 80% of the soldiers will be the same as in SFOR. Most of the roughly 1,000 American troops recently in SFOR have returned home. Some will remain behind to form the core contribution to the new NATO Headquarters in Sarajevo, which is headed by an American.

The end of SFOR is a demonstration of the progress Bosnia has made in the nine years since Dayton and a concrete example of cooperation between NATO and the EU. It provides the first significant use of Berlin Plus arrangements, which gives the EU access to NATO planning and assets.

The United States and NATO are not leaving Bosnia. NATO Headquarters Sarajevo will operate in close cooperation with the EU, taking up the challenge of defense reform, continuing efforts to locate and apprehend indicted war criminals, and working with local authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina to combat terrorism. The United States remains committed to the security and stability of Bosnia and Herzegovina, including through a significant contribution to the NATO Headquarters and a continued presence at Camp Eagle in Tuzla.

During its time, SFOR facilitated the transfer of 53 war crimes indictees to The Hague to stand trial. The NATO Headquarters will continue that work. However, Bosnia and Herzegovina retains the obligation, and primary responsibility, under the Dayton Accords and UN Security Council Resolutions to apprehend all fugitive indictees.

NATO’s intervention proved the Alliance is capable of meeting the new array of security challenges facing the post-Cold War world. Today, NATO forces are benefiting from their experience in Bosnia as they carry out their missions in Kosovo, Afghanistan, and Iraq.