Brkić meets – On 1 July 2026, Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and NATO cooperation chief Josip Brkić met Brigadier General James Fowler, the Commander of NATO Headquarters Sarajevo, to confirm intensified political dialogue, review progress on de
On 1 July 2026, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chairman of the Commission for Cooperation with NATO of Bosnia and Herzegovina, M. Sc. Josip Brkić, received an inaugural visit from the Commander of NATO Headquarters Sarajevo, Brigadier General James Fowler.
The meeting. held in a context where every high-level exchange carries weight for both security planning and reform momentum. quickly turned into a shared confirmation: Bosnia and Herzegovina and NATO are committed to further strengthening their partnership. The interlocutors pointed to intensifying political dialogue, keeping regular high-level meetings, and continuing cooperation through existing partnership mechanisms.
They also agreed that significant progress has been made in relations between Bosnia and Herzegovina and NATO in the past period. Particular attention was given to the adoption and submission of the Reform Programme of Bosnia and Herzegovina for 2025—described as the sixth in a row—and to the first Individual Partnership Programme (ITPP) for the period 2025–2028.
Brigadier General Fowler and Deputy Minister Brkić then connected the political promises to the work that continues behind them. Brkić emphasized that Bosnia and Herzegovina’s cooperation with NATO makes an important contribution to the development of defense capacities and to the implementation of reform processes that support overall security and stability in the country. He briefed Fowler on the work of the NATO Cooperation Commission and on activities related to preparing the Reform Programme of Bosnia and Herzegovina for 2026.
The conversation also moved forward to what comes next. They discussed upcoming activities under partnership cooperation with NATO. including consideration of the assessment of the implementation of the Reform Programme for the period 2023–2025 at tomorrow’s session of the NATO Deputy Permanent Representatives Committee (DPRC) in Brussels. They also addressed the continuation of the process of mid-term assessment of partnership goals within the ITPP.
Security and geopolitics were never far from the center of the discussion. The interlocutors exchanged views on current security and geopolitical challenges. as well as on the role of NATO in Bosnia and Herzegovina and in the region. They also spoke about Bosnia and Herzegovina’s contribution to international security through the participation of members of the Armed Forces of BiH in international military missions and peace support operations.
One thread ran through the full meeting: the work is not treated as a one-off step. but as an ongoing obligation. They assessed the importance of continuing reforms. strengthening the resilience of institutions. and cooperating with international partners—backed by a shared assessment that preserving the stability of Bosnia and Herzegovina is key for the security of the Western Balkans and Europe.
In the end, the visit wasn’t just a ceremonial first meeting. It was a signal that the partnership’s next milestones—Brussels assessments for 2023–2025 and the mid-term review of ITPP partnership goals—are already shaping the agenda.
Bosnia and Herzegovina NATO Headquarters Sarajevo Josip Brkić Brigadier General James Fowler NATO partnership Reform Programme 2025 ITPP 2025-2028 NATO DPRC Brussels