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| Bosnia and Herzegovina Armed Forces | |
|---|---|
| Name | Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina |
| Native name | Oružane snage Bosne i Hercegovine |
| Founded | 2006 |
| Country | Bosnia and Herzegovina |
| Allegiance | Dayton Agreement |
| Headquarters | Sarajevo |
| Commander in chief | Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina |
| Minister | Ministry of Defence (Bosnia and Herzegovina) |
| Commander | Chief of Joint Staff |
| Active | 10,000 (approx.) |
| Reserve | 3,000 (approx.) |
| Conscription | None |
| History | Bosnian War, Army of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Army of Republika Srpska |
| Engagements | NATO peacekeeping, UNPROFOR, EUFOR Althea, ISAF |
Bosnia and Herzegovina Armed Forces
The Bosnia and Herzegovina Armed Forces were established in 2006 as a unified defense institution following post-war reforms and the Dayton Agreement. They integrate personnel and assets formerly aligned with the Army of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Army of Republika Srpska, operating under the civilian oversight of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Ministry of Defence (Bosnia and Herzegovina). The formation aimed to support contributions to NATO operations, European Union security missions, and multinational frameworks such as Partnership for Peace.
The roots trace to the collapse of Yugoslavia and the Bosnian War (1992–1995), during which forces like the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Croatian Defence Council, and the Vojska Republike Srpske contested control. The Dayton Agreement ended large-scale hostilities and created the Armed Forces Reform Commission that negotiated unification alongside actors such as the Office of the High Representative and NATO Stabilization Force. Post-Dayton reforms involved international organizations including the European Union, the United Nations, and bilateral partners like the United States Department of Defense, the Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom), and the German Bundeswehr. The 2005 decision merged entity forces into a joint structure inspired by models from Slovenia Armed Forces, Croatia Armed Forces, and other North Atlantic Treaty Organization aspirants. Subsequent milestones included participation in ISAF and deployments to Lebanon under UNIFIL and contributions to EUFOR Althea.
The command follows civilian control by the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina and policy direction from the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Operational command is vested in the Chief of Joint Staff and a joint headquarters modeled on NATO staff structures. Forces are organized into joint branches including Land, Air, and support formations influenced by Military Committee (NATO) doctrines, cooperative frameworks like Partnership for Peace, and interoperability guidelines used by the European Union Military Staff. Key units coordinate with multinational centers such as the Joint Multinational Readiness Center and regional initiatives including the South-Eastern Europe Defense Ministers' Meeting. Administrative elements mirror structures found in the German Bundeswehr and the Italian Armed Forces for logistics, procurement, and intelligence liaison with agencies like the NATO Intelligence Fusion Centre.
Active-duty personnel are volunteers following the abolition of conscription in the post-war period, influenced by reforms advocated by the Office of the High Representative and bilateral partners like the United States. Recruitment campaigns reference international standards promoted by NATO and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe while outreach engages veterans groups such as associations of the Army of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and former members of the Army of Republika Srpska. Career development paths include professional military education comparable to institutions like the Joint Services Command and Staff College and exchanges with the Military Academy in Belgrade, the Command and Staff College (USA), and the NATO Defence College.
Inventory modernization has been supported by donations and procurement from partners including the United States, Turkey, Croatia, and Poland. Land equipment includes variants of armored vehicles influenced by M113 concepts, artillery systems interoperable with NATO calibers, and engineering assets comparable to those fielded by the Romanian Land Forces. Air capabilities are limited, relying on light helicopters and liaison aircraft with maintenance agreements referencing the Eurocopter family and supply chains linked to the Defense Logistics Agency (USA). Capability development emphasizes peacekeeping, territorial defense, and disaster response interoperable with EU Civil Protection Mechanism and regional rapid reaction units like the Althea Force. Procurement processes are governed by laws aligning with standards from the European Defence Agency and transparency expectations set by the World Bank.
Forces have contributed personnel to multinational operations such as ISAF in Afghanistan, EUFOR Althea in Bosnia and Herzegovina under a NATO-led framework, and UNIFIL in Lebanon. Deployments are coordinated with partners including the United States European Command, NATO Force Integration Units, and the European Union Military Staff. Domestic missions include support to civil authorities during floods and wildfires, cooperating with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the Red Cross, and other regional actors. Participation in exercises like Saber Strike, Immediate Response, and the Trident Juncture interoperability programs underscores commitments to multinational readiness.
Education is provided through national institutions inspired by models such as the Military Academy in Sarajevo, staff courses aligned with the NATO Defence College, and specialized training in partnership with the German Bundeswehr and the Turkish Armed Forces. Training ranges and facilities are used for combined arms exercises and peace support training similar to programs run by the NATO School Oberammergau and the Multinational Peacekeeping Training Centre. International cooperation includes exchange programs with the United States Military Academy at West Point, the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, and tactical courses organized by the European Union Military Staff.
Policy is shaped by the constitutional framework established by the Dayton Agreement, parliamentary oversight from the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and strategic guidance aligned with NATO Partnership objectives and European Union integration ambitions. The defence budget is allocated through national fiscal processes influenced by economic institutions such as the Central Bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina and monitored by bodies like the World Bank and Transparency International. Priorities include modernization, interoperability, contribution to international missions, and disaster response capacity, with procurement and reform efforts informed by audits from the European Court of Auditors and advisory teams from bilateral partners including the United States Department of Defense and German Federal Ministry of Defence.
Category:Military of Bosnia and Herzegovina