United States Ambassador to NATO Julianne Smith arrived in Sarajevo on Monday.

During the day, Smith will meet with BiH Defense Minister Sifet Podzic and officials at the Butmir NATO base near Sarajevo.

We warmly welcome U.S. Ambassador to NATO Julianne Smith @USAmbNATO and our NATO Allies to Sarajevo. Together, we are steadfast in supporting BiH’s Euro-Atlantic integration. pic.twitter.com/PjqjIPqRzq

— US Embassy Sarajevo (@USEmbassySJJ) September 12, 2022

This visit comes just one month before the decision on the continuation of the engagement of EUFOR forces in BiH, which will be decided at the UN Security Council, where Russia can veto the extension of the EU peace-keeping mission, which would mean that EUFOR has to leave BiH. In that case, NATO forces would replace the EUFOR Althea mission.