NATO stands firm: No Security Vacuum will be allowed in Bosnia

The visit follows NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte’s recent trip to Bosnia, where he met with the country’s leadership. Ahead of the meeting, NATO Deputy Secretary-General Radmila Sekerinska addressed the media.

"We're welcoming Bosnia’s three Presidency members today at NAC to discuss the situation in Bosnia and our important partnership. NATO has had a long-term presence in the Western Balkans, and just last week, our foreign ministers reaffirmed our strong commitment to regional stability and security in Bosnia. We’re still concerned about recent developments there," she said.

"I have three key points. First, NATO fully supports Bosnia and Herzegovina’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, as outlined in the Dayton Peace Agreement. That agreement must be respected—it’s the foundation of Bosnia’s stability and political structure.

Second, Bosnia’s constitutional order has to be upheld. We won’t accept any security vacuum in Bosnia, and we won’t allow peace, hard-earned over the years, to be put at risk. NATO is closely working with international partners to ensure that. A stable and secure Bosnia benefits everyone, and it’s in our security interests too.

Third, Bosnia is a valued partner. We're ready to further strengthen cooperation through our defence capacity-building program, our efforts on the ground in Sarajevo, and our team supporting Bosnia’s political engagement. We’re also working closely with international partners, including the EUFOR Althea mission, which we continue backing through the Berlin Plus arrangement, and the High Representative, whose authority must be preserved.

We all want to see Bosnia progress on its EU and NATO path. A lot has already been achieved, and we’re looking forward to building on that with our Bosnian partners for the benefit of everyone living there. We’re excited for a productive, constructive discussion today and an important NAC meeting," Sekerinska said in her remarks.

None of the members of Bosnia’s Presidency spoke before the start of the meeting.