Bosnia and Kosovo: U.S. Military Operations (CRS Report for Congress)
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| Release Date |
Feb. 16, 2004 |
| Report Number |
RL32282 |
| Report Type |
Report |
| Authors |
Steve Bowman, Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
Summary:
With the on-going requirements of U.S. military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, the
continuing
peacekeeping deployments in the Balkans have come under congressional scrutiny to determine
whether or not they could be safely reduced or terminated. This report examines the history and
current status of U.S. military operations in the Balkans, and will be updated as events warrant.
In Paris on December 14, 1995, the presidents of Bosnia, Croatia, and Serbia signed the peace
settlement negotiated in Dayton, OH (Dayton Accords). The United Nations Security Council's
Resolution 1031 authorized the NATO-led implementation force (IFOR) for one year. On December
12, 1996, the Security Council authorized a follow-on force, dubbed the Stabilization Force (SFOR).
This authorization has been renewed annually. In March 1998, the NATO allies agreed that SFOR
will remain in Bosnia until significant progress has been made in the implementation of the Dayton
Accords.
SFOR is now a force of about 12,000 troops. The U.S. contingent has been about 1,800. It will
be reduced to 800 by summer 2004, and probably withdrawn by 2005 when the European Union is
expected to take over peacekeeping duties from NATO. U.S. forces have suffered no fatal casualties
from hostile action in Bosnia. SFOR continues the mission of monitoring and enforcing
demilitarized zones and weapon cantonment. These efforts have been credited a success. NATO
commanders have lent assistance to civilian authorities in their efforts to create a stable political
environment (e.g., detaining war crimes suspects, and providing support for elections and limited
assistance for refugees).
In Kosovo, with the failure of peace talks on March 24, 1999 NATO began Operation
Allied
Force airstrikes against targets in Serbia and Kosovo. In June Yugoslavia accepted a peace
proposal
and signed a military-technical agreement with NATO providing for the withdrawal of all Yugoslav
forces from Kosovo and turning military control of the province over to NATO's peacekeeping
forces (KFOR). U.N. Security Council Resolution 1244 endorsed the peace settlement and "an
international security presence with substantial NATO participation." It is expected that NATO
forces will remain in Kosovo until its political status is resolved.
KFOR totals about 20,000 troops in Kosovo, with the United States contributing about 2,100
troops. The U.S. has suffered no casualties from hostile action.
Congress has appropriated approximately $23.5 billion for Bosnia and Kosovo operations from
FY1992 through FY2004.
Congressional concerns have focused on the impact of Balkan operations on 1) military
readiness and the ability to maintain military operations in Iraq, 2) whether there has been an
equitable distribution of responsibilities among the NATO allies and 3) if the United States needs
to participate in Balkan peacekeeping operations at all.
