During a meeting with representatives of Bosnia Herzegovina and the European Union, Secretary General for Operations Tom Goffus reaffirmed the defense alliance’s efforts in the country. Goffus welcomed the developments in Bosnia Herzegovina. However, he does not yet hold out the prospect of NATO membership.
Goffus met with Defense Minister Zukan Helez, among others, on Aug. 29-30. The Secretary General sees the armed forces in Bosnia Herzegovina as an example of successful multi-ethnic cooperation. The stability of the country and peace in the entire region are in NATO’s interest. For this reason, NATO has been supporting the country for many years in developing its defense and security capabilities. The NATO headquarters in Sarajevo is part of this effort. In addition, the defense alliance is using a wide range of measures to help Bosnia and Herzegovina maintain its sovereignty and territorial integrity. For this reason, NATO will stick to the defense and capacity building initiative. He urged the country to continue implementing NATO-inspired reforms. This would benefit all citizens. Furthermore, he urged the country to submit a 2023 reform program. While this would not prejudge NATO membership, it would be key to stability in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the entire Western Balkans.