US fighter jets to fly over Bosnia in warning to 'secessionist' Serbs

On January 8, the U.S. Embassy in Sarajevo announced that two F-16 fighter jets would overflight Bosnia to demonstrate U.S. support for the country's territorial integrity. The purpose of this aerial display is to emphasize opposition to "secessionist activity" by the Serbs, particularly led by Milorad Dodik, the nationalist leader of the Bosnian Serb region. The U.S. Embassy clarified that this overflight is part of bilateral air-to-ground training carried out with Bosnia's national armed forces, focusing on areas in the north of the Balkan country that are not under Serb control.

In its official statement, the embassy highlighted the importance of this military cooperation as an advanced measure contributing to peace and security in the Western Balkans. Furthermore, it serves as a tangible demonstration of the United States' commitment to upholding the territorial integrity of Bosnia-Herzegovina. The statement specifically referenced Dodik's renewed separatist activities, pro-Russian stance, and persistent call for secession and alignment with neighbouring Serbia.

The Dayton Peace Accords, brokered by the United States, brought an end to the devastating 1992-1995 war in Bosnia, which resulted in approximately 100,000 casualties and the displacement of two million people. The accord divided Bosnia into the Serb Republic (RS) and a Federation shared by Croats and Bosniaks, with a central government of relatively limited authority.

Emphasizing the United States' position, the embassy stated that the Bosnia-Herzegovina Constitution does not provide any right to secession. It warned of U.S. intervention if anyone attempts to alter this fundamental aspect of the Dayton agreement.

The timing of the overflight coincides with the beginning of celebrations by Bosnian Serbs for their self-proclaimed statehood day, an event that Bosnia's constitutional court has banned as discriminatory. Milorad Dodik, who faces charges in the Sarajevo state court for defying constitutional court decisions and the international envoy overseeing Dayton Accords implementation, has a trial scheduled for January 20. The trial was initially set for December 20 but was postponed due to procedural issues raised by Dodik's legal team, with Dodik refusing to enter a plea.

'अलगाववादी' सर्बों को चेतावनी देने के लिए अमेरिकी लड़ाकू विमान बोस्निया के ऊपर से उड़ान भरेंगे