Saturday 25th September 2021 marked the opening ceremony for Exercise EUFOR Quick Response 2021. The annual exercise tests EUFOR’s capability to call up and deploy its Intermediate Reserve Forces (IRF) held at high readiness by contributing nations.
Attended by representatives from the Armed Forces of BiH and SIPA, they were treated to a multi- national parade of fully integrated soldiers.
During an opening address, the Commander of EUFOR, Major General Alexander Platzer said; “This year’s exercise will again bring together BiH Law Enforcement Agencies, Armed Forces of BiH and EUFOR, in order to test our respective contingency plans and our capabilities. Together we will demonstrate that the citizens of BiH can be assured of our combined commitment to ensuring a Safe and Secure Environment.”
EUFOR IRF troops have arrived from Austria, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Romania and KFOR to join and integrate with their colleagues from Turkey and Hungary in EUFOR’s permanent Multinational Battalion, before deploying to locations across Southern BiH for the duration of the exercise. Every soldier entering the country has complied with all COVID-19 regulations in accordance with International, BiH and EUFOR rules.
During the exercise, troops will be tested by a varied series of differing scenarios to examine their response and ensure the intensive integration programme conducted at Camp Butmir was successful.
EUFOR Operation Althea is currently made up from forces of 19 nations with a mandate to support BiH authorities in maintaining a Safe and Secure Environment.
(Photo credit: Denis Zuberi – Anadolu Agency)
