If Bosnia and Herzegovina comes closer to joining NATO, Russia will "have to react to this hostile act,” Russian embassy in Sarajevo said in an unusually blunt press release on Thursday.

The embassy said the statement came in response to what they called “numerous publications praising the advantages of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s membership in NATO” – but did not specify which publications it referred to.

“We call on Bosnian friends to think carefully, to consider all pros and cons, to take into consideration the opinion of all its citizens who are far from reaching a consensus on this matter,” Radio Free Europe reported.

On Wednesday, Bosnia had formed its Commission for Cooperation with NATO, based on a decision by the Bosnian government from February 24. Commander of NATO headquarters in Sarajevo, General Eric Folkestad, commented that it was important for NATO and Bosnia and Herzegovina to have relations, and that the door to join the military alliance will remain open for Bosnia – but only after it decides whether to join or not.

Bosnia and Serbia are the only two countries of the Western Balkans outside of NATO.

Bosnia’s membership would require unanimous agreement by Bosnia’s two semi-autonomous regions and its three major ethnic groups. However, while the idea of joining NATO is popular in the Federation (FBiH) half of the country dominated by ethnic Bosniaks and Croats, the leadership of the Serb-majority Republika Srpska (RS) half strongly objects to NATO membership, and its official stance is that they would follow Serbia’s decisions on this matter.

In December 2019, the RS regional parliament adopted a resolution proclaiming it neutral in military matters, in line with neighboring Serbia.