Agence France-Presse
March 18, 2022

US condemns Russian ‘threat’ to Bosnia over NATO bid

The United States has denounced “dangerous” comments by Russia’s ambassador to Bosnia, who issued a tacit threat to the Balkan country over its proposed bid to join NATO.

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The country is ruled by a rotating tripartite presidency, with Croat and Muslim leaders in favour of joining NATO, while the Serb leader says he supports military neutrality.

Earlier this week, Russia’s ambassador in Sarajevo, Igor Kalabukhov, said his country could “react” if Bosnia were to join the Western military alliance, invoking Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.

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On Thursday, the US embassy in Bosnia hit out at what it called “threats”, calling them “dangerous, irresponsible, and unacceptable”.