The Netherlands will send up to 150 marines to Bosnia and Herzegovina for one year to strengthen the European Union's "Altea" mission in the country.
This was stated by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the country Vopke Hoekstra and the Minister of Defense Kaisa Ollongren in a letter to the Parliament on Thursday, writes "Evropeyska Pravda" with reference to the publication Euractiv.
Altea, or EU Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina (EUFOR), is a military mission of the European Union within the framework of the common security and defense policy. It is aimed at ensuring peace and preventing a new outbreak of violence in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The mission began work in 2004 and is considered the successor to previous NATO peacekeeping missions after the end of the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1995.
"Given the geographical proximity, the Netherlands and the EU have a direct interest in stability in the Western Balkans. Together with its partners, the Netherlands seeks to promote political and social stability and peaceful coexistence in Bosnia and Herzegovina and, more broadly, in the Western Balkans," the letter to the parliament reads.
In addition to 150 Marines, ten more soldiers will be sent to Bosnia to gather intelligence.
According to the plan, the Marines will serve in the country for a year, starting in October, and the reconnaissance unit will arrive in Bosnia in June.
It will be recalled that the UN extended the mandate of the EU military mission in Bosnia for another year in November last year.
Last year, Germany decided to join the EU military mission in Bosnia because of the threat from Russia.