Sarajevo to host landmark 2025 security conference

Among the prominent speakers are Admiral Keith Blount, Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe at SHAPE; General Aurelio Colagrande, Deputy Supreme Commander at NATO’s Allied Command Transformation in the US; Turkish Admiral Mesut Ozel; and former CIA Deputy Director Dave Pitts. Their attendance underscores both the strategic importance of the conference and Bosnia and Herzegovina’s role as a hub for regional and European security dialogue.

The conference is organised with the support of NATO Headquarters Sarajevo, NATO’s ACT Command in Norfolk, and SHAPE in Mons. It marks the largest gathering of NATO’s senior military leadership in Europe since the Munich Security Conference, with discussions focused on transatlantic cooperation and the reinforcement of Europe’s security framework.

Harun Karcic, co-founder of the conference, emphasised the symbolism of hosting such a debate in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

“Sarajevo is becoming a key platform for dialogue between high-ranking international military and civilian leaders, NATO partners, and defence industry experts. This event not only strengthens transatlantic ties and security in Southeast Europe but also allows Bosnia and Herzegovina to highlight its defence industry potential and its contribution to Europe’s evolving security architecture,” Karcic said.

This year’s edition also highlights strong engagement from the US defence sector, with American firms Regulus Global and Strider Technologies acting as the main sponsors.

Regulus Global’s CEO, Will Somerindyke, considered one of Washington’s most influential defence figures with bipartisan support in Congress and deep connections across the Pentagon and intelligence community, will personally attend. His presence signals the strategic weight the US places on Bosnia and Herzegovina and the wider region.

Joining him will be Cooper Wimmer, Vice President of Strider Technologies and a CIA veteran who served more than two decades as a station chief in Pakistan and Iraq. Today, Wimmer represents a company specialising in advanced cybersecurity and open-source intelligence (OSINT) solutions. His participation underscores the rising importance of new technologies, intelligence sharing, and cyber defence in today’s security environment.

While NATO’s role and European defence dominate the agenda, both Regulus and Strider view Bosnia and Herzegovina as a strategic hub for investment. They see opportunities in the country’s defence sector and export potential, particularly as Europe grapples with years of underinvestment in its military-industrial base.

By uniting top-level NATO commanders, influential US defence industry leaders, and regional policymakers, the Sarajevo Security Conference 2025 positions itself as a unique forum for strengthening transatlantic cooperation, bolstering security in Southeast Europe, and supporting the growth of Bosnia’s defence industry.

The conference will officially open on Thursday, September 26, at Sarajevo City Hall.