On Monday two United States Air Force F-16 fighter jets flew over Bosnia in a show of support for the territorial integrity of the country in light of what is being deemed "secessionist activity" by Serbs, who are still opposed to the Dayton Peace accords of the 1990s, reported Rueters.
Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik speaks to press after he leaves the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina for the ongoing legal proceedings against him not respecting the decisions of the Office of the High Representative of Bosnia and Herzegovina (OHR), as the hearing is postponed for the fourth time in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina on December 20, 2023.
The flyover was part of an air-to-ground training exercise conducted alongside the Bosnian armed forces in the northern region of the Balkan country-which is not controlled by the Serbians.
The United States embassy in Sarajevo pointed to renewed fervor from nationalist, pro-Russian, Serbian leader Milorad Dodik.
"This bilateral training is an example of advanced military-to-military cooperation that contributes to peace and security in the Western Balkans, as well as demonstrates the United States' commitment to ensuring the territorial integrity of Bosnia-Herzegovina in the face of anti-Dayton and secessionist activity," the statement from the U.S. embassy said.
The Dayton peace accords ended the Bosnian war of 1992-1995 in which 100,000 people were killed and millions displaced. The treaty divided Bosnia into a Serb Republic, and a Federation shared by Croats and Bosnians under a central government.
"The United States has underscored that the Bosnia-Herzegovina Constitution provides no right of secession, and it will act if anyone tries to change this basic element of Dayton," the embassy statement added.
Bosnian Serbs Mark Statehood Day Amid Political Tensions and Legal Battles
This statement comes as Bosnian Serbs have begun celebrating statehood day, a self-designed celebration that was banned for being discriminatory against non-Serbs by Bosnia's constitutional court.
Three years ago, Milorad Dodik, a the pro-Russian president of the Republika Srpska caused a political uproar when he stated that he would pull the Serbian region of from many key Bosnian entities, such as state institutions, the judiciary system, tax system and the joint armed forces.
However, Dodik eventually back down that time. However, he did have this to say on Monday to Reuters.
"We are not calling for revolution. We are not preparing for war, we are preparing for political decisions on the level of the state parliament and on the level of the Republika Srpska parliament," Dodik said.
Dodik currently faces Sarajevo state court charges having signed RS legislation suspending decisions by the constitutional court.
His trail was originally slated to begin in December but was adjourned until January 20 due to procedural concerns raised by the Dodik's legal team.
