The Maryland–Bosnia and Herzegovina National Guard Partnership is one of 25 European partnerships that make-up the U.S. European Command State Partnership Program and one of 88 worldwide partnerships that make-up the National Guard State Partnership Program.[2] The partnership was established in 2003 and has become integral to Bosnia and Herzegovina's post-war military integration and in their ongoing NATO accession process. The current focus is on a joint-deployment to Afghanistan, AT exchanges with key BiH units, and supporting BiH's NATO Partnership for Peace goals.[3]
War ended in 1995 with Dayton Accord signing (still the constitutional document), army integrated in 2006
BiH given conditional NATO Membership Action Plan (MAP) in 2010 (have not met condition on defense property)
The Armed Forces are the most integrated, most effective national institution, but have been negatively affected by the political tumult.
Bosnia and Herzegovina is unique in the European AOR in its internal political paralysis due to fundamental differences between its constituent "ethnicities" over what the country should look like. Though conflict is unlikely, in its current state, BiH is "virtually ungovernable" with no sign of agreement on reforms necessary to change that.[3]
A send-off ceremony for 26 BiH Military Police soldiers who are deploying in support of ISAF together with the Maryland National Guard 115th MP Battalion.
Soldiers from Bosnia and the Maryland Army National Guard plot out features on a map in order to complete a sand table for a combat lane exercise during training at Fort A.P. Hill, Va., June 15, 2012.
The Maryland National Guard hosts Bosnian Minister of Defense and Chief of Defense during a visit to Camp Fretterd Military Reservation, June 2012. The group met to speak about the future of the SPP and how it strengthens the relationship between Bosnia and Herzegovina, Maryland and the United States.
LTC Dzevad Buric, Maryland's first liaison to Bosnia, discusses an upcoming training event with a Soldier from Bosnia.
Bosnia's Ambassador to the U.S. visits the Maryland National Guard and speaks to Maryland's Adjutant General to ensure the lasting partnership between Bosnia and Maryland.
