Bećirović with Šekerinska: Conditions met for BiH to receive NATO membership invitation

(Patria) - Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Denis Bećirović met today at NATO headquarters in Brussels with NATO Deputy Secretary General Radmila Šekerinska, with whom he discussed the progress of our country on its NATO path.

During the talks, modalities for expanding cooperation between Bosnia and Herzegovina and NATO were considered, as well as other current security and political issues.

Bećirović informed the NATO Deputy Secretary General about the results achieved by BiH, such as the adoption and implementation of five BiH reform programs, the modernization and strengthening of the operational capabilities of the Armed Forces of BiH, the adoption of individually tailored partnership programs for the period 2025-2028, and many others.

He emphasized that the recent adoption of the BiH Reform Program for 2025 and preparations for the adoption of the document for 2026, along with the continuous increase in interoperability, clearly confirm that Bosnia and Herzegovina is successfully implementing the Membership Action Plan (MAP) and meets the conditions to receive an invitation for NATO membership.

On this occasion, Bećirović also stressed that BiH's membership in NATO is a strategic foreign policy goal of the state, and that NATO integration is key for the long-term security, stability, and strengthening of the defense capacities of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

- The decision on Bosnia and Herzegovina's entry into NATO is not made by the peoples, but by the state and its competent institutions. There is full, institutional consensus on this. All legal, strategic, doctrinal, and operational documents have been adopted, confirming, with the consent of all political actors, that Bosnia and Herzegovina should become a NATO member as soon as possible. Bosnia and Herzegovina has essentially met all the conditions to receive an invitation for NATO membership - said Bećirović.

He stressed that the formal conditions for Bosnia and Herzegovina to receive an invitation for NATO membership have also been met. Our country's entry into full NATO membership will mark the beginning of long-term stability in Southeast Europe.

He pointed out the importance of continuing reforms in the defense and security sector, as well as further strengthening cooperation between Bosnia and Herzegovina and NATO, including support for the development of the capacities of the Armed Forces of BiH and increasing interoperability with the Alliance.

NATO Deputy Secretary General Radmila Šekerinska highlighted the importance of continued cooperation between Bosnia and Herzegovina and NATO. She praised the adoption and submission of the BiH Reform Program for 2025.

On this occasion, it was confirmed that Bosnia and Herzegovina will have another meeting with NATO at the highest level, in the format of NAC plus Bosnia and Herzegovina. The meeting will be held on May 6 this year in Brussels.