Beyond borders: how the Balkan Medical Task Force is reshaping regional relations
The Balkan Medical Task Force (BMTF), founded in 2016 with support from the United States and Norway, is a multinational military medical unit bringing together healthcare professionals from six Balkan nations: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Slovenia to rapidly respond to a broad spectrum of regional disaster relief situations.
“By uniting as medical experts speaking the same language, we can swiftly respond to a wide range of regional disaster relief challenges, following the exemplary model set by the Balkan Medical Task Force." - Col. James Chambers
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BMTF set up at Vigorous Warrior 24 in Hungary
Photo by: U.S. European Command Public Affairs
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Bosnian Nurse supports a physician treating a simulated patient 0 BMTF Vigorous Warrior 24 in Hungary
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Albanian Medic part of BMTF awaaits MEDEVAC at Vigorous Warrior 24 in Hungary
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New Serbian Physician takes command of BMTF at hand-over ceremony in Belgrade, June 19, 2024
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Slovenian surgeon Lt Col Fischinger reviews patient file with OR staff - BMTF at Vigorous Warrior 24 in Hungary
The dissolution of Yugoslavia in the early 1990s was a complex period marked by conflict and international intervention. In the aftermath of this era, various initiatives emerged to promote reconciliation and rebuild inter-ethnic relations, particularly in the field of medicine.
A notable example of this regional cooperation is the Balkan Medical Task Force (BMTF), founded in 2016 with support from the United States and Norway. This multinational military medical unit brings together healthcare professionals from six Balkan nations: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Slovenia. The BMTF represents a significant step towards collaboration in military medicine, fostering partnerships among countries that were once in conflict.
"NATO and the broader trans-Atlantic community face common threats like disease, disaster and instability that don't respect borders or international agreements and can arise quickly, throwing entire regions into danger," said U.S. Air Force Col. James Chambers, U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) command surgeon. “By uniting as medical experts speaking the same language, we can swiftly respond to a wide range of regional disaster relief challenges, following the exemplary model set by the BMTF."
The BMTF's mission is to provide medical support at the NATO Role II level for Crisis Response Operations and to rapidly respond to a broad spectrum of regional disaster relief situations. NATO Role II is the provision of medical care in a field or fixed medical facility, usually at the battalion or brigade level, with the ability to perform a range of medical procedures and treatments, including minor surgery and the management of trauma patients.
This initiative not only enhances the medical operational capabilities of the West Balkan region but also serves as a platform for participating nations to contribute vital capabilities to international operations.
By uniting former adversaries in a common cause, the BMTF exemplifies how shared medical expertise can transcend historical divisions and contribute to regional stability. This collaborative effort demonstrates the potential for healthcare initiatives to play a crucial role in post-conflict reconciliation and the rebuilding of inter-ethnic relations in the Balkans.
Recently, the BMTF underwent a leadership transition, with Serbian Col. Veljko Milić assuming the role of hospital commander. Serbia has also taken on the responsibility of serving as the framework nation, supporting the unit's training and operations. This development underscores ongoing efforts to strengthen regional ties and promote professional cooperation among countries with a shared history.
In its persistent pursuit of excellence, the BMTF will join the Serbian multi-national training exercise Platinum Wolf 2025, further enhancing collective knowledge, deepening integration among its members, and increasing its capabilities to meet future challenges.
During NATO's Vigorous Warrior 2024 exercise in Hungary, Europe's largest military medical drill, the BMTF successfully completed its second external medical evaluation, securing recertification to deploy in future NATO, United Nations or humanitarian support missions.
USEUCOM’s GHE office, under Maj. Cokely's leadership, synchronizes support for the BMTF from various entities, including Norway, the European Union, USEUCOM and U.S. National Guard state partners. This role involves long-term planning to align USEUCOM and BMTF priorities while adhering to country cooperation plans and integrated country strategies.
The BMTF's development exemplifies the power of regional cooperation in enhancing medical response capabilities and nurturing partnerships among Balkan nations. This collaborative effort underscores the critical role of adept diplomacy in orchestrating multinational healthcare initiatives, demonstrating how shared medical expertise can transcend historical divisions and contribute to regional stability.
About USEUCOM
U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) is responsible for U.S. military operations across Europe, portions of Asia and the Middle East, the Arctic and Atlantic Ocean. USEUCOM is comprised of more than 65,000 permanent military personnel supported by rotational forces and DoD civilians working closely with NATO Allies and partners. The command is one of two U.S. forward-deployed geographic combatant commands headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany. For more information about USEUCOM, visit www.eucom.mil.
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