Hungarian Reserve Company in Bosnia Again
Text: Ministry of Defence | Photo: archives | 10:12 May 27, 2025The reserve company of the Hungarian Defence Forces serves in Sarajevo again with EUFOR Operation ALTHEA, the European Union’s peacekeeping mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina. These soldiers form a separate unit that is not involved in everyday tasks in peacetime, but is deployable, if necessary, for example on large-scale exercises or if the security situation requires reinforcement.
Hungary performs this task together with Austria in annual rotation. The Hungarian unit is tasked with assisting the maintenance of a safe and secure environment, providing freedom of movement between different areas of the country and participating in joint patrols and exercises with troops of other nations.
The Hungarian force that has just arrived in Bosnia and Herzegovina – whose backbone is drawn from the HDF 14th Engineer Regiment – was earlier placed on standby in Hungary. Since March, they had been on standby, waiting for deployment to Bosnia and Herzegovina, within the framework of which they received intensive training and preparation.
Currently the soldiers are stationed in Camp Butmir, Sarajevo, where they work together with Romanian, Czech and other allied forces. Their collective task is to preserve peace and stability in the Western Balkans – a region whose security is a high priority for Hungary, since the peace of this region is one of the fundamental pillars of Europe’s security. The Western Balkans is not only a main route of migration towards Europe, but the tensions in this region may also directly affect Hungary’s security.
Since 2004, Hungary has continuously been participating in the EU peacekeeping mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The significance of the Hungarian engagement is shown by the fact that for the first time in 2024, a Hungarian general, Major General László Sticz PhD was appointed Commander of EUFOR. From this May, Brigadier General Tibor Szabó has been filling the role of chief of staff operations, and starting from 2026, a Hungarian general will be deputy commander of the mission.
The presence of the Hungarian unit further strengthens the peacekeeping mission and contributes to maintaining security and stability in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Press release of the Ministry of Defence
