Why did Bosniaks and Bosnian Croats form a federation in 1994?
During the Bosnian War, Bosniaks and Bosnian Croats were initially allies against Bosnian Serb forces. However, they became embroiled in a separate, bitter conflict between 1993 and 1994, largely driven by territorial disputes.12
In March 1994, the two groups signed the Washington agreement, which established the Bosniak-Croat federation. This alliance was formed to halt the infighting between the two parties, allowing them to refocus their efforts against the Bosnian Serb forces, who controlled approximately 70 percent of the territory at that time. This strategic realignment eventually contributed to a large-scale land offensive in 1995 that, alongside NATO air strikes, pressured the Bosnian Serbs to participate in the peace negotiations that led to the Dayton Accords.213