Bosnia and Herzegovina – EU military operation

EU Operation ALTHEA succeeded the NATO-led missions IFOR and SFOR, to which Denmark contributed from 1996 to 2004.

Since early July, the Danish Armed Forces have expanded their contribution to the EU-led operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The current Danish contribution consists of two staff officers serving in the mission’s tactical headquarters at Camp Butmir.

Denmark will provide staff personnel during the second half of 2025 and throughout 2026.

The Danish Armed Forces also contribute medical personnel to the mission on a rotational basis. From April to October, a Danish doctor served in the Austrian medical detachment deployed to the mission. In total, five Danish doctors rotated through the position.

Denmark has previously contributed medical personnel to the operation. In autumn 2022 and during the second half of 2023, Denmark deployed a helicopter doctor to EUFOR ALTHEA. Additional Danish doctors were deployed again from October 2024 until the end of the year.

The primary task of EUFOR ALTHEA is to support peace and stability in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The country experienced a violent civil war between 1992 and 1995, and tensions between ethnic groups remain.

The mission’s objective is to support the development of a stable, functional, peaceful and multi-ethnic Bosnia and Herzegovina that cooperates peacefully with neighbouring countries and moves closer to EU membership, while enabling the country’s own security forces to maintain peace and stability without the presence of an external force.

EUFOR ALTHEA replaced NATO’s SFOR mission in 2004.

Key tasks of the force include:

• Monitoring the security situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina and collecting and sharing relevant information.
• Deterring former parties to the conflict from renewed armed confrontation.
• Supervising weapons and ammunition stockpiles and the defence industry in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
• Monitoring the import and export of weapons and military materiel.
• Monitoring and coordinating the disposal of surplus ammunition, weapons and explosives.
• Monitoring humanitarian demining operations.

EUFOR ALTHEA includes contributions from 25 EU member states and partner nations and comprises approximately 1,200 personnel.

The mission maintains close cooperation with NATO.

EUFOR ALTHEA’s headquarters are located at Camp Butmir near Sarajevo. The Austrian medical and helicopter detachment also operates from this location and covers the entire territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Danish soldiers have previously served in Bosnia and Herzegovina as part of the UN mission UNPROFOR (1992–1995) and the NATO missions IFOR and SFOR (1996–2004).