Former Dutch Prime Minister and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has pledged the alliance’s “unwavering” support for Bosnia’s territorial integrity, following a series of separatist actions by Bosnian Serb leaders. Rutte’s remarks came during a visit to Sarajevo on Monday, where he met with members of Bosnia’s tripartite presidency.
“Three decades after the Dayton Peace Agreement, I can tell you: NATO remains firmly committed to the stability of this region and to the security of Bosnia and Herzegovina,” Rutte said. “We will not allow hard-won peace to be jeopardized.”
He warned against “inflammatory rhetoric and actions,” describing them as dangerous and a direct threat to the country’s stability. “Let’s be clear, this is not 1992, and we will not allow a security vacuum to emerge,” Rutte emphasized.
EUFOR Bolsters Presence Amid Rising Tensions
Rutte’s visit coincided with an announcement that the European Union Force (EUFOR), the peacekeeping mission in Bosnia, would increase its troop presence to address potential threats. The move follows recent actions by Milorad Dodik, the president of Bosnia’s Serb-majority entity, Republika Srpska (RS), who introduced laws aimed at banning the operation of state-level security and judicial institutions.
Since the end of the Bosnian War in 1995, the country has been divided into two autonomous regions: Republika Srpska and a Bosniak-Croat federation, connected by a weak central government. Dodik’s latest measures have raised concerns about further fragmentation and instability.
Divisions Within Bosnia’s Presidency
Following Rutte’s meeting with the presidency members, reactions highlighted deep divisions. Zeljka Cvijanovic, the Serb representative, argued that it was wrong to “put the blame on one side only.” In contrast, Denis Becirovic, the Bosniak member, described the Serb actions as a “brutal attack on the constitutional order.”
Becirovic also warned that destabilization in the region would “only benefit Moscow,” echoing broader concerns about external influences. Rutte urged the presidency members to resolve their differences, stating, “You have got to solve this, the three of you.”
The Legacy of the Dayton Agreement
The Dayton Peace Agreement, signed in 1995, ended the Bosnian War, a brutal conflict that erupted in 1992 during the dissolution of Yugoslavia. The war pitted the country’s three main ethnic groups — Bosniaks, Serbs, and Croats — against one another, resulting in the bloodiest conflict in Europe since World War II. The agreement established the current political structure, with a High Representative acting as the chief arbiter in disputes and overseeing the implementation of the peace deal.
As tensions rise, NATO and EUFOR’s increased involvement underscores the international community’s commitment to preserving Bosnia’s fragile peace and territorial integrity. However, the path forward remains fraught with challenges, as internal divisions and external pressures continue to test the country’s stability.