Military analyst Hamza Visca, in an interview commenting on the statements of the United States (U.S.) President Donald Trump, that Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic was ready to attack Kosovo, said that, according to the assessments of security services in our country, “Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) is not threatened by neighbors, regardless of how someone may feel that psychologically.”
Visca reminded that after the Russian aggression on Ukraine, a trend of armament began in Europe, as well as the activation of mandatory military service, which some countries in the region of BiH also started to follow.
“Europe, we have to admit, has neglected its armies. Our situation is even more complex. If we look at our equipment, we are in a very poor state. The armament in Europe is a result of what, according to their assessments, is a threat from Russia and terrorism. They have rather drastic increases in defense spending of 5 percent of GDP. They need at least five years to prepare to deter Russia from an attack. And when we look at ourselves, we have a problem with filling the ranks of the Armed Forces of BiH (AFBiH). We don’t even have an active reserve, and that is a feature of strong states. Here, the problem is also that any talk of reserve units is viewed as preparations for war,” explained the military analyst.
In Croatia, they agreed to move towards activating mandatory military service. “In one year, they will train about 4.000 people; they have already prepared the barracks. It could start in the fall or in January. That is now the European trend,” said Visca.
When it comes to Serbia and mandatory military service, there is a “moment that can be dangerous” for the citizens of BiH, Visca emphasized.
“When it comes to Serbia, they are preparing a law for mandatory military service. There is a moment that can be dangerous for BiH. All citizens of BiH who have a Serbian passport could serve mandatory military service in that country, and we have a law that prohibits joining foreign armies. There is also the problem that it would mean Serbia is training the army of the Republika Srpska (RS) entity for the formation of the so-called ‘Serbian world’,” said the military analyst, repeating that this situation is a “big problem” and that BiH must exert pressure on Serbia not to “expose our citizens to a challenge that leads them to court.”
“It is the same under our law to serve in the army in Serbia as to volunteer for Syria or Ukraine. They are not being sent there by the state of BiH,” Visca concluded.
He added that one of the solutions is for BiH to reintroduce mandatory military service and to abolish infantry battalions that are ethnically homogeneous so that we can have modern, multiethnic battalions and infantry.
