Quick Response 2025: important engagement in the Balkans

Since 2012, EUFOR Operation Althea, the peacekeeping mission of the European Union in Bosnia and Herzegovina has held an exercise every year – except for a flood-stricken one – with the objective of demonstrating the preparedness of the mission forces and thereby their commitment to maintaining a safe and secure environment (SASE).

The phases of the exercise, which started on 9 October, covered the whole area of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and besides the permanent forces of EUFOR, they involved a number of reserve elements activated for the exercise, among them a Hungarian maneuver company, as well as the designated Hungarian troops of the KFOR Tactical Reserve Battalion from the NATO mission in Kosovo. The dynamic display ending the exercise on 26 September presented the key capabilities of the multinational personnel during a fictitious crowd and riot control (CRC) scenario.

Hungarian, Turkish, Italian, Albanian, North Macedonian and Czech troops participated in dispersing the hostile crowd and the barricades they had built. The Czechs also used patrol dogs in the task. The successful task execution confirms that EUFOR’s strength lies in joint efforts and interoperability.

The “protesters” also employed improvised explosive devices (IEDs) against the peacekeepers, which were disposed of by the C-IED forces of the mission. In addition, the Czech medical team also demonstrated one of the most important capabilities, the air medical evacuation (Air MEDEVAC) capability, which had already been used to save lives during the 2024 Hungarian Command Year.

Superior’s recognition

“This exercise is about showing the unity among nations. Our countries join forces to help the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina in building their future and making progress. This exercise is not only about strategies and tactics: it is about the people, and our commitment to the citizens is unwavering. Every maneuver, every mission is designed to protect and serve all the communities around the country, Bosnia and Herzegovina and so the Western Balkans” – said COM EUFOR Major General Florin Marian Barbu in his opening remarks.

In his keynote speech, HE Luigi Soreca, EU Special Representative and Head of the EU Delegation in BiH recalled that “the EU strongly believes that the operational presence continues to play a key role in preserving stability and security in the country, and we’ll continue our support to the presence of the operation as long as it is necessary. This exercise shows that the European Union is unequivocally committed to the inviolability of the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina.”

On the day of the dynamic display, in addressing the Hungarian personnel, Lieutenant General Zoltán Mihócza, Deputy Chief (Territorial Defence) of the HDF Defence Staff stated that “soldiers are important to us. The capability development is well under way, the quantity and quality of the military equipment is increasing – however, we know that capability is more than just hardware. Capability is man, it is us, soldiers and our training standards” – emphasized the general at the staff meeting.

In his speech, he also talked about the most important events in Hungary, including the lessons learned so far during the country defence Exercise Adaptive Hussars 2025, and also mentioned that in an effort to thank the soldiers for their service, the military leaders are working to improve the system of conditions in which they carry out their tasks day after day.