Romanian Armed Force’s Detachment assigned to EUFOR ALTHEA Intermediate Reserve Force arrived at Sarajevo

The first contingent of Romanian soldiers from the Intermediate Reserve Force arrived at Sarajevo Airport on Wednesday, March 12, as part of the mission to reinforce EUFOR ALTHEA presence in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). The activation of the Intermediate Reserve Force took place at the request of the Commander of EUFOR ALTHEA Operation, with additional forces from the Czech Republic and Italy being sent alongside the contingent provided by the Romanian Armed Forces. 

 

The Deputy Commander of EUFOR, Brigadier General Lorenzo Dal Maso, welcomed the Romanian soldiers upon landing and emphasized the importance of Romania's contribution to maintaining a secure and stable environment in the region. In the coming days, the reserve forces will continue to reinforce the EUFOR ALTHEA troops deployed in the field.

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The European Union's EUFOR ALTHEA Operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina was launched in December 2004, aiming at supporting the European Union's unified strategy for BiH and ensuring a secure and stable environment.

 

Over the last decade of January, Major General Florin Barbu took over the command of the mission, marking an important milestone for Romania, which simultaneously exercises command of two operations conducted under the aegis of the European Union's Common Security and Defence Policy. With approximately 600 soldiers deployed in the theatre of operations, Romania remains one of the main troop contributors to this mission, restating its commitment to regional security.

 

To further support EUFOR ALTHEA, the Romanian Armed Forces deployed, starting with January 8, the "Dacian Pumas" Detachment, consisting of approximately 100 soldiers and four IAR-330 helicopters, which perform airlift, research and MEDEVAC missions. Romania will exercise command of this operation for a one-year period, coordinating the activities of over 1,000 soldiers from 24 contributing states, thus consolidating its position as a strategic partner in maintaining stability in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Press Office