Germany's Minister for Europe advocates continued sanctions against Milorad Dodik

Bundestag representatives said that Althea is a mission whose primary goal is to preserve peace and stability in the country and that it should be extended for another year, with the possibility of deploying up to 50 members of the Bundeswehr.

The current mandate expires at the end of June, and according to German officials, the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina remains concerning—particularly due to increasingly pronounced separatist tendencies in the Republika Srpska entity.

The international military mission EUFOR Althea is tasked with supporting and implementing the Dayton Peace Agreement, which ended the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1995. In addition to maintaining security, the mission also includes training the Armed Forces of BiH as well as providing advisory and monitoring support.

The mission currently involves about 1,500 soldiers from several EU member states, including 35 German soldiers. The Bundeswehr was present in Bosnia and Herzegovina from 2004 to 2012 and returned to the mission in 2023 due to the deteriorating security situation.

Germany's Minister for Europe, Gunther Krichbaum (CDU), warned that the political situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina remains "very complicated." He specifically pointed to ongoing secession attempts by Republika Srpska, led by Milorad Dodik.

“Dodik wants to further deepen divisions in the country,” Krichbaum said, adding that continued EUFOR engagement is therefore necessary. He also advocated for the continuation of sanctions against the President of Republika Srpska as a deterrent measure.

According to him, the Dayton Agreement was a good solution because it ended the war, but it also deepened divisions within Bosnia and Herzegovina, which, he claims, prevent equal political rights for Jews and Roma.

He also recalled German Minister Anna Lührmann, who, he said, traveled to Bosnia and Herzegovina and felt uncomfortable in Banja Luka because of Dodik.