Germany Funds €3.15 Million for New Field Uniforms for Bosnia’s Armed Forces Amid Budget Deadlock

Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Armed Forces (AFBiH) will soon be equipped with new field uniforms and boots, thanks to a €3.15 million donation from the Federal Republic of Germany. The agreement was signed on Friday by Defense Minister Zukan Helez and Renaud Meyer, Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The signing ceremony, held at the Ministry of Defense in Sarajevo, was attended by Germany’s Defense Attaché in Bosnia, Colonel Marc Abendroth, and Deputy Chief of the Joint Staff of AFBiH, Major General Mirsad Ahmić, among other officials.

Minister Helez expressed deep gratitude to the German government for the financial support totaling 6,163,920 convertible marks and to UNDP for its “reliable implementation of this donation at a time when the state budget has yet to be adopted, hindering capital projects in the Ministry of Defense and the Armed Forces.”

“The Government of Germany has been instrumental in helping us restore military infrastructure and remains our leading partner in equipping the Armed Forces with modern uniforms,” Helez said. “We are sincerely thankful for this continued support.”

Colonel Abendroth emphasized that Germany’s contribution aims to strengthen the morale and safety of Bosnia’s soldiers, particularly the younger generation serving in the field.

“We are pleased to support the continued equipping of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina, ensuring their members feel protected and confident in new field uniforms,” Abendroth stated. “Uniforms play a crucial role in building cohesion among soldiers and fostering trust with the civilian population. It will be a great satisfaction to see all AFBiH personnel soon wearing these new uniforms.”

Renaud Meyer, UNDP’s Resident Representative, thanked the German government for its confidence and reaffirmed UNDP’s commitment to long-term cooperation with Bosnia’s institutions.

“This partnership demonstrates our shared vision of strengthening the capabilities of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s defense sector and ensuring sustainable development across all state institutions,” Meyer said.

The project builds on Germany’s long-standing support for Bosnia’s defense modernization and aligns with NATO-EU efforts to enhance stability and professional standards within the region’s armed forces.