Politico: Could a No-Deal Brexit Have Consequences for the Peacekeeping Mission in BiH

(Patria) - EU diplomatic circles believe that the United Kingdom makes the largest contribution to peacekeeping forces in BiH.

The concern of European diplomats about the potential risk of a no-deal Brexit for the military peacekeeping operation in BiH is therefore understandable.  

The Politico portal states in a political risk analysis that the United Kingdom plays a key role in Operation Althea, the European Union peacekeeping mission stationed in Sarajevo, but that there is a possibility of a rapid withdrawal if Britain leaves the EU without a withdrawal agreement, reports the Patria news agency.

The mandate of the Althea mission, which began in 2004, is the implementation of the Dayton Agreement, which also includes training for the Armed Forces of BiH. 

Politico states that the United Kingdom makes the largest contribution to this peacekeeping mission, in the form of military forces and intelligence work.

This portal cites statements from several European diplomats who expressed concern about this possibility. One of them revealed that the Secretary-General of the EEAS (European External Action Service), Helga Schmid, at a recent meeting warned of the potential consequences of a no-deal Brexit for Operation Althea during a meeting of EU ambassadors on Wednesday.

Politico reveals that another diplomat at the same meeting expressed 'great concern' in the event that the 27 EU member states do not react quickly to fill the gap that would remain after the departure of British forces.

From the EEAS, they state that the meeting of the high-level diplomatic circle on Wednesday did not result in a concrete proposal for a solution, because at this stage it would 'be difficult to ensure the operational conditions of the Althea mission without relying on a temporary agreement' with the United Kingdom, as otherwise there would be 'significant operational and political implications', states the same diplomatic source, reports Politico.

Author Jacopo Barigazzi, who writes for Politico, believes that the EU's dilemma regarding Operation Althea highlights the possible military consequences of Brexit. 

He claims that the departure of the United Kingdom from the EU will leave a large gap in the EU's common military capabilities, given that Britain is not only a nuclear power with a permanent seat in the United Nations, 'but also home to one of the strongest armies on the European continent'.   

'Keeping London close in military terms after Brexit is a priority for all member states', writes Politico and in the same context states that French President Emmanuel Macron convened the European Security Council in March to commit Britain to 'making joint decisions'. 

Relying on the same diplomatic sources, Politico columnist Barigazzi writes that EU member states reacted to the topic; one of them is France, which commands Operation Althea, and which agreed that a solution must be found for this peacekeeping operation in the context of Brexit.

Politico concludes that the options for EU member states are limited: one is to fill the gap with additional contributions, or to use EU battle groups – battalion-sized forces of about 1,500 soldiers, which have never been mobilized before, and another option is for the Council to adopt a transitional decision until a permanent solution is found, Politico learns from this diplomatic source. 

Operation Althea once consisted of 7,000 soldiers, and today numbers 600 soldiers with a budget of 10.2 million euros, writes Politico.