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Email this citationCIAO DATE: 07/04
No Early Exit: NATO's Continuing Challenge in Bosnia
May 22, 2001
Abstract
NATO-led troops have played a vital part in securing the peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina (Bosnia) since their arrival in December 1995. Although authorised by the Dayton Peace Agreement to assist civilian implementation, the military is not obliged to do so. Yet, by evolving in response to developments, the mission has contributed - albeit belatedly and inconsistently - to international civilian efforts to construct a viable state. This shift was reflected in the change of the mission's name in 1996 from Implementation Force (IFOR) to Stabilisation Force (SFOR).
At the same time, the size of the force has shrunk from over 60,000 troops in 1995-96 to some 22,000 today. The contribution of the United States has fallen from 20,000 troops at the outset to 3,300 - from roughly one-third to one-sixth of the total, despite the facts that America spearheaded the intervention in 1995, and continues to exercise overall command of SFOR. On the other hand, the U.S. still provides the single largest national contingent. In Kosovo, by contrast, the American contribution of some 7,000 troops to KFOR is twice as large, but constitutes just 14 per cent of the total.
