Relationship dossier

Bosnia and Herzegovina Russia

Relationship assessment

Dayton-related engagement coexists with disputes over NATO integration, the High Representative, and Bosnia and Herzegovina’s foreign policy.

Bosnia and Herzegovina toward Russia

-10

Bosnia and Herzegovina voted in favor of the 2022 United Nations General Assembly resolution condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Internal political divisions have, however, constrained the country’s adoption of sanctions against Russia.

Russia toward Bosnia and Herzegovina

-20

Russia participates in the Dayton peace framework and its Peace Implementation Council Steering Board. It has opposed Bosnia and Herzegovina’s NATO integration and challenged the authority of the High Representative, while supporting positions promoted by Republika Srpska leadership.

Overall relationship

-15

The relationship combines Russia’s continuing role in the Dayton peace framework with sustained disputes over Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Euro-Atlantic orientation and the authority of international oversight institutions. Bosnia and Herzegovina’s response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has also exposed divisions over foreign policy, leaving the bilateral relationship mixed but marked by significant political friction.

How to read these scores

Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.

−100: Extreme sustained hostility
−50: Substantially adversarial
0: Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
+50: Substantially cooperative
+100: Exceptionally close sustained partnership

“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.

Relationship context

Knowledge coverageLimited

Overview

Bosnia and Herzegovina and Russia have a mixed relationship shaped by Russia’s role in the Dayton peace framework and significant disagreement over Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Euro-Atlantic orientation. Bosnia and Herzegovina voted to condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine at the United Nations in 2022, while domestic divisions have constrained sanctions policy. Russia has opposed Bosnia and Herzegovina’s NATO integration and has supported positions advanced by Republika Srpska leadership that conflict with the central government’s policies.

Areas of tension

Russia’s opposition to Bosnia and Herzegovina’s NATO integration
Disputes over the authority and legitimacy of the High Representative
Russia’s support for Republika Srpska leadership positions that challenge central-government authority
Bosnia and Herzegovina’s response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and sanctions policy

Key developments

Bosnia and Herzegovina voted in favor of a United Nations General Assembly resolution condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
2 March 2022

Major uncertainties

The scope and implementation of bilateral cooperation outside the Dayton peace framework are unclear.
The extent of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s government-level cooperation with Russia is uncertain amid internal political divisions.

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