For the first time after the armed conflicts of the 1990s, the armed forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia will engage in a joint military exercise on Bosnian territory.

“This is a regular cooperation within the operational capability programme required by NATO,” Bosnian Defence Minister Sifet Podzic told Radio Free Europe.

“That's a standard cooperation we had before and will have in the future,” he added.

The Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina approved the exercise on November 19, days before the anniversary of the Dayton Peace Agreement, which ended the 1992-95 Bosnian war. It will take place next year on Mount Manjaca.

Podzic explained the exercise was planned within the regional cooperation programme stipulated by the US-Adriatic Charter – strategic partnership towards the integration into Europe's political, economic, security and defence institutions.

The Charter was founded in 2003 by Albania, Croatia, North Macedonia and US, n order to help the aspiring countries to join the NATO.

Bosnia and Montenegro officially joined in 2008, while Serbia has a status of observer.