Croatia Joins Bosnian Alliance

Croatia formed a military alliance with Croats and Muslims in Bosnia on Monday, adding muscle to efforts against Serb rebels in both countries but boosting the risk that war will flare with new fury.

It isn’t clear how the new alliance will be put into practice. A Croat-Muslim federation in Bosnia formed with U.S. encouragement has existed on paper for a year but has implemented few of its political and military provisions.

With military help from Croatia, the Croat-Muslim federation could be stronger if fighting breaks out after a Bosnian cease-fire ends May 1. But that could increase the level of violence if it prompts Serbs in Croatia to step up their battlefield help to Serbs in Bosnia. And it’s not clear how Serbia, with strong ties to both rebel groups, would react.