Thewesternbalkans
The military forces of the European Union in Bosnia and Herzegovina, EUFOR, will begin a large military exercise, the Commander Major General László Sticz announced on August 13.
The “Quick Response” exercise, which will last from August 24 to September 16, will involve EUFOR forces deployed in the area of operations coming from 23 countries participating in the mission, which will be temporarily reinforced by reserve forces from Austria, Hungary, Romania and the composition of the International Peace Mission in Kosovo (KFOR).
During the press conference at the Butmir base, which he held with the Chief of the Joint Staff of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Colonel General Gojko Knežević, Major General Sticz said that on August 24, the reserve forces of EUFOR will also begin their deployment and integration into the EUFOR structure. After the exercise was over, those forces would return to their home countries.
“The activities will be carried out within the Butmir base, but will also include activities outside the base, such as deployments to operational areas, then force patrols, the use of drones and helicopters, as well as events that will take place in our lot houses and airports,” he stated. Most of their operations will be carried out in the areas of Čapljina, Glamoča, Livno, Orašje, Pazarić, Sarajevo, Tuzla, Ustikolina and other populated areas.
Additional international forces will be deployed at some of the border posts on the border with Croatia and Montenegro.
Comment: The “Quick Response” is one of the most important training opportunities for EUFOR forces deployed in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as for reserve forces, which is the main EUFOR training event every year, which has been held regularly since 2012.
This year the military exercise will be held with the support of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Despite the increased military forces in this year’s “Quick Response” exercise, Major General Sticz and Colonel General Knežević defined the security situation in the country as stable and expressed hope that in the coming period, it would stay that way.
