Bosnia-Herzegovina officially requests replacement of Hungarian peacekeepers in the country
Bosnia-Herzegovina has officially requested the replacement of Hungarian troops within the EUFOR peacekeeping mission in the country. Željko Komšić, a member of the Bosnian Presidency, addressed this request to Antonio Costa, President of the European Council, seeking the substitution of Hungarian forces with those from another EU member state, excluding Croatia due to the Dayton Peace Agreement.
Background of the request and the reasons behind it
Bosnia-Herzegovina’s request to replace Hungarian troops in the EUFOR mission stems from concerns over Hungary’s perceived interference in Bosnia’s internal affairs, Balk.hu writes. This situation has been exacerbated by the Hungarian government’s (namely Deputy State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Levente Magyar’s) open support for Milorad Dodik, the leader of the Bosnian Serb entity, who has been accused of undermining Bosnia’s constitutional order after separating the judiciary in Banja Luka from the state’s control.
Additionally, there have been reports that Hungary’s Counter Terrorism Centre (TEK) sent a team to Bosnia, allegedly to potentially extract Dodik if he faced imprisonment following a court verdict, VSquare reports.
Komšić emphasised that the Hungarian government’s political stance, particularly its support for Dodik, has created a perception of bias among the Bosnian public. This perceived bias threatens the neutrality of the EUFOR-Althea mission, which is crucial for maintaining stability in the region.
Open expression of support
Magyar Levente, Hungary’s Deputy State Secretary for Foreign Affairs, recently expressed support for Dodik, describing the legal proceedings against him as “political witch-hunting“. His statements were seen as an attempt to interfere in Bosnia’s internal affairs, sparking sharp criticism in Sarajevo.
The situation is further complicated by reports that Hungary might intervene in Bosnian affairs if conflicts arise, which has heightened concerns about regional stability. The Bosnian government views these developments as a challenge to its sovereignty and has called for the EU to address these concerns through its relevant committees and officials.
The request for the replacement of Hungarian troops will be reviewed by the EU’s Political and Security Committee (PSC), the EU Military Committee (EUMC), and other key EU officials.
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Hungarians are persona non grata in the Balkans outside of Serbia. Hungarians are seen as little Russians who work for Putin.
The government of Bosnia and Herzegovina are ungrateful. The Hungarian peacekeepers served the whole population well without political preferences. It is time for the stupid leaders of that country to just say thank you. Hungarian armed forces members will be happy to be away from Muslims.