Center for Security Studies: Disturbing lack of reaction to Dodik's hint of undermining BiH's NATO path

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - The Center for Security Studies BiH issued a press release expressing concern over the lack of any reaction from officials and political leaders to Milorad Dodik's threats to undermine the defense and security sector and his intention to problematize the donation of necessary funds for the modernization and equipping of the BiH Armed Forces and related institutions.

Namely, as they point out in the statement, at the recently held meeting of NATO defense ministers in Brussels, the Defense Capacity Building (DCB) package for Bosnia and Herzegovina was officially approved.

- The aforementioned package is a form of practical demonstration of NATO's commitment to implement the agreed tailored political and practical assistance for BiH and to fulfill the Alliance's obligation adopted at the NATO summit in Madrid in June 2022. As can be seen from the official documents, the assistance package consists of 12 initiatives intended to respond to the needs of improving the resilience of BiH's defense and security system in the short or medium term - they state in the press release.

They add that Milorad Dodik, the President of Republika Srpska, immediately reacted to this information from NATO headquarters in Brussels, stating that the BiH Presidency, as the constitutionally competent body, had not requested any assistance from the NATO alliance, which is why he proposed that the "collective head of state" not accept the assistance approved by the Alliance for BiH.

- At the time when he was a member of the BiH Presidency, Milorad Dodik did not problematize any donation from NATO or its member states directed to the BiH Ministry of Defense or the BiH Ministry of Security. For the record, in 2021 alone, the US, among other things, donated 4 Bell-UH-IH-II Huey II helicopters or 14 Humvee all-terrain vehicles, and support in terms of equipment was provided by Great Britain, Turkey, and China - CSSBiH states.

In what geostrategic and geopolitical circumstances this statement was made, CSSBiH further points out, can best be concluded from the address of the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, during his visit to the International Defense Exhibition held these days in Abu Dhabi.

- In his statement to BNTV, he said: "Whoever does not have a serious, deterrent army will be attacked and eaten." On the same occasion, he indicated that Serbia will strive to increase allocations for the army and the defense industry from the current 2.4 to 3 percent of GDP (currently, an allocation of about 700 million Euros is projected).

It is truly inexplicable why none of the officials and political leaders have commented on these threats to undermine the defense and security sector and the intention to problematize the donation of such necessary funds for the modernization and equipping of the BiH Armed Forces and related institutions - CSSBiH states.

They add that all institutions covered by this tailored assistance program for BiH, together with their partners from NATO countries, have in the previous year, in detail and according to plan, elaborated on the type of assistance that is most beneficial for the BiH Armed Forces at this stage of its integration into NATO.

- Therefore, it is truly incomprehensible that no one opposes the sweeping statements that institutions were unaware of the preparation of this and similar assistance from NATO. In their reports, regularly submitted to the BiH Ministry of Defense, the BiH Presidency, and the BiH Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it was stated that the BiH Armed Forces have received extensive training from partners and that their progress in reaching NATO standards is limited by the lack of quality equipment - the statement emphasizes.

The agreement of political coalitions signed between partners in government at the state level, titled "Guidelines, Principles, and Goals in Executive and Legislative Power for the Period 2022-2026," CSSBiH adds, also includes a section on Euro-Atlantic integration.

- Therefore, it is even more inappropriate that parties with pro-Bosnian and Croatian orientation have not stood up to defend the institutions and proclaimed foreign policy goals, because such statements domestically, as well as the positions of neighbors, certainly cause justified security dilemmas among the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as to whether someone in the region is arming themselves for defensive or offensive purposes.

It is understandable that from a political perspective, it is not pragmatic to create conflict situations in such sensitive and complex circumstances at the beginning of building a functional coalition for the assumed period of governing. At the same time, all those in power must be aware of and primarily represent the interests of citizens who are in doubt as to whether silence means tacit support for the stated positions that threaten the hard-built defense system in which citizens have great confidence - the CSSBiH statement concludes.