Boris Ruge, NATO's Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs and Security Policy, recently concluded a tour of the Western Balkans, ending with a visit to Belgrade before returning to Sarajevo. In an exclusive interview with N1, Ruge emphasized NATO's continued presence and commitment in the region, stating, "The Balkans are on NATO's radar, and we are not going anywhere."

Ruge's visit aimed to meet with political leaders in Sarajevo, Belgrade, and Pristina, to assess the political situation and reaffirm NATO's presence and partnerships in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Kosovo, and Serbia. He highlighted NATO's role in maintaining stability in Kosovo and expressed concern over the secessionist rhetoric from Republika Srpska's leader, Milorad Dodik, underscoring that NATO and its allies will not tolerate actions that undermine BiH's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Ruge also addressed the importance of NATO's partnership with Serbia and reiterated NATO's commitment to the stability and prosperity of the Western Balkans. While commenting on BiH's potential NATO membership, he noted that this decision requires consensus within BiH's state institutions but emphasized the ongoing development of the NATO partnership with BiH.

Finally, Ruge reaffirmed NATO's interest in the Balkans, especially given the current geopolitical situation, and made it clear that NATO remains deeply invested in the security and stability of the region.