The Hungarian Defense Forces have already proven that they are capable of leading a major NATO operation, Major General Laszlo Sticz, the new commander of the EU’s EUFOR Althea mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina, told Hungarian media. He said that the mission will only intervene in the country if the Bosnian police cannot secure peace, adding that the situation could escalate any time, as happened in Kosovo last May.

“In 2021, there was already a Hungarian commander of the KFOR mission in Kosovo, and now for the first time a Hungarian general will lead the EU mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina for a year. The Hungarian Defense Forces are not only participating in such a large-scale operation, but also coordinating and leading it. Furthermore, there will be the possibility to use new military equipment, such as new helicopters, which indicates that the Hungarian force development reform launched in 2018 is making great strides forward,” Hungary Today carried Sticz as speaking for M1 TV channel.

Operation Althea or formally known as EUFOR (European Union Force Bosnia and Herzegovina) is an international force operating under the authority of the European Council. The military operation was launched on December 2, 2004, 9 years after the Bosnian 1992-95 war, with the main task of the peacekeeping mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Following a decision by the Political and Security Committee of the European Union, Hungary offered to lead EUFOR ALTHEA for the first time in January 2024.

Speaking on Kossuth Radio’s Good Morning, Hungary! program, Sticz said that the root of the current situation is the armed conflict of 1992-95. It was concluded by the Dayton Agreement, determining the future of the region. He explain that there are two parts of the country, a Bosnian Serb-majority part and the other part dominated by the Bosniaks and Croats, with the ultimate goal for the two areas to integrate, to be able to cooperate and to be ready for EU accession.

“But this requires economic, political and military assistance, provided by NATO and, since 2004, by the EU,” the Major General added.

The EU operation supports the local authorities, in particular the Bosnian police, he continued the explanation.

“The military risk is secondary, the EU mission will only intervene if the Bosnian police cannot secure peace. But the situation could escalate at any time, as happened in Kosovo last May. That is why an international military force is important, and it must be impartial and credible, with a deterrent if necessary,” he stressed.

Sticz also explained that an important military capability of the Hungarian forces is, among other things, air transport and evacuation and rescue, that not only serves the safety of the EU mission’s soldiers, but can also provide assistance to the local population in case of need. “In addition, because of the mined areas in the region, the bomb disposal capability is also of great importance,” he said.

Hungary's defence minister Kristof Szalay-Bobrovniczky confirmed in October last year that the EUFOR Althea mission command in Bosnia and Herzegovina will as of January 1 2024 be led by major general Laszlo Sticz, announcing additional forces to join the European Union's military mission.

“Hungary's Defense Forces are stepping up their commitment: In 2024, additional forces and vital capabilities will join EUFOR ALTHEA. Major General Sticz's experience in force development makes him a strong leader for this mission,” the minister announced on X, formerly Twitter.