“We will not allow Russia to use Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) as a stage for provocation or to divert attention,” it was mentioned from the Ministry of Defense of the United Kingdom (UK) about the reasons for sending experts to BiH to work on countering harmful Russian influence.
The arrival of experts in BiH was announced at the end of June, and a month and a half later the UK Ministry of Defense said that due to “operational security reasons” they cannot answer whether the experts have already arrived in BiH.
But, when asked by Radio Free Europe (RFE), the UK Ministry, based on the Freedom of Information Act 2000, responded that “the Russian attack on Ukraine has increased the risk of misjudgment or exploitation in the region of the Western Balkans, especially in BiH”.
“The UK is working to drive out the malign influence of Russia and protect peace, prosperity and stability. While these countries (of the Western Balkans) are seeking greater support from the international community, there is an opportunity for NATO and the UK to provide security, show commitment to supporting security in the region,” they stated in to the answer.
The UK is sending experts to BiH at the request of NATO, because it is estimated that tensions have increased in the country since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
NATO previously told RSE that the British decision was made “for the purpose of stability, security and cooperation in the region”.
“BiH has come a long way since the conflict of the 1990s, but recently we have witnessed an increase in tensions, with more division in rhetoric, stalled reforms and foreign actors working to undermine progress,” NATO told RSE.
What did the UK assess as harmful Russian influence in BiH?
”They continue to spread disinformation through media portals such as the Sputnik news agency in support of Russia’s influence campaign in Serbia and the wider region. Sputnik targets a regional audience, persistently promoting the idea of a common Slavic heritage and a common cultural and religious space,” they said. They also see a possible problem in the fact that Russia supplies almost 100% of gas to the region – in Serbia, North Macedonia, and BiH.
What is said from the Ministry of Defense of BiH?
The BiH Ministry of Defense closely cooperates with the UKMinistry of Defense and the Armed Forces through bilateral cooperation, they answered RSE’s inquiry about whether experts from the UK have started working with the Armed Forces.
Cooperation, they state, includes training, education, attendance at seminars, conferences and exercises, both in the country and abroad.
“Also, this cooperation is reflected in various types of financial support and the donation of material and technical resources for our needs. The advisory assistance provided by the NATO headquarters in Sarajevo also includes the assistance of British experts,” they wrote in the answer.
The UK ministry says it supports the Armed Forces through the procurement of critical training equipment, “such as training targets and modern facilities,” RSE writes.
E.Dz.
