U.S. Relations With Bosnia and Herzegovina

More information about Bosnia and Herzegovina is available on the Bosnia and Herzegovina Page and from other Department of State publications and other sources listed at the end of this fact sheet.

U.S.-BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA RELATIONS

The United States established diplomatic relations with Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1992 following its independence from Yugoslavia. A period of conflict followed among Bosnia’s Muslims, Croats, and Serbs over control of the former Yugoslav Republic’s territory. The 1992-95 war in Bosnia and Herzegovina ended with the crucial participation of the United States in brokering the 1995 Dayton Peace Agreement. After leading the diplomatic and military effort to secure the Dayton Accords, the United States continues to lead the effort to ensure its implementation. The United States maintains command of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) headquarters in Sarajevo. Since the 1990s it has also provided approximately $2 billion in assistance. Priority sectors have included reconstruction, humanitarian assistance, economic development, and modernization of the defense sector.

The United States supports Bosnia and Herzegovina on its path toward full integration into Western institutions. The country’s progress toward full integration in the Western community of nations – and the democratic, economic, and security commitments that this entails – are essential to the broader stability of the Western Balkans. In December 2019, Bosnia and Herzegovina submitted to NATO its first annual Reform Program document, which outlines reform commitments, building upon the established partnership between the Alliance and Bosnia and Herzegovina. In February 2021, Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Council of Ministers approved the formation of a Commission for Cooperation with NATO, which will act as the primary state-level coordinating body for the country’s partnership with NATO. The United States supports these efforts to bring the country in line with Euro-Atlantic standards.

Bosnia and Herzegovina has a Stabilization and Association Agreement with the European Union, and submitted an application for EU candidacy in February 2016. As part of the next phase of the accession process, in May 2019 the European Commission issued an opinion on priority reforms to be undertaken for Bosnia and Herzegovina to progress towards official EU candidate status. The United States supports Bosnia and Herzegovina’s efforts to complete the reforms necessary to achieve EU candidate status.

U.S. Assistance to Bosnia and Herzegovina 

U.S. Government assistance to Bosnia and Herzegovina aims to fully anchor the country in European and Western institutions, strengthen multi-ethnic democratic institutions and civil society, support strong state-level judiciary and law enforcement sectors, bolster free and independent journalism, counter corruption, support civic education, promote a multi-ethnic and pluralistic society, and increase prosperity and attractiveness to foreign investors. The United States has provided over $2 billion in assistance since 1992; FY 2020 assistance to Bosnia and Herzegovina totals approximately $50 million, including bilateral, regional, and COVID Supplemental funding.

Bilateral Economic Relations 

Bosnia and Herzegovina is a transitional economy that is pursuing membership in the European Union and the World Trade Organization. More than 50 U.S. and U.S.-affiliated companies have established a full-time presence in the country. In 2020, the United States exported $21.6 million in goods to Bosnia and Herzegovina, while goods imports from Bosnia and Herzegovina totaled over $98 million.

Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Membership in International Organizations 

Bosnia and Herzegovina and the United States belong to a number of the same international organizations, including the United Nations, Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, International Monetary Fund, and the World Bank. Bosnia and Herzegovina is also an observer to the World Trade Organization and the Organization of American States and has been a participant in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s Partnership for Peace program since 2006.

Bilateral Representation 

Principal Embassy officials are listed in the Department’s Key Officers List.

Bosnia and Herzegovina maintains an embassy  in the United States at 2109 E Street NW, Washington, DC 20037 (tel. 202-337-1500).

More information about Bosnia and Herzegovina is available from the Department of State and other sources, some of which are listed here:

ACE Country Assistance Fact Sheet (PDF)
CIA World Factbook Bosnia and Herzegovina Page 
U.S. Embassy
USAID Bosnia and Herzegovina Page 
History of U.S. Relations With Bosnia and Herzegovina
U.S. Census Bureau Foreign Trade Statistics 
Export.gov International Offices Page 
Library of Congress Country Studies (see Yugoslavia (Former)) 
Travel Information