Beyond Bosnia - Evaluating NATO-Russian relations during the IFOR/SFOR experience

Abstract

This study assesses NATO-Russian relations during the NATO-led humanitarian intervention missions in Bosnia: the Implementation Force (1995) and the Stabilisation Force (1999-2004). Insights provided from this assessment are placed within broader post-Cold War debates on relations between NATO and Russia. The author argues that the successful cooperation during IFOR/SFOR shows that, under the right leadership, Russia and NATO can cooperate during humanitarian missions. In result, Russian presence had a positive effect in executing the mission’s objectives. Besides, the author argues that if trust among the political leadership had been higher, NATO-Russian relations during the nineties could have resulted in more cooperation. Honest communications among the military leadership during IFOR/SFOR shows strong support of this.