The Deputy Chairperson of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Minister of Defense Zukan Helez, together with the Deputy Minister of Defense for Policy and Plans Slaven Galić, on Thursday, met in London with the Minister for the Armed Forces of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, James Heappey.
Concluding a multi-day visit to the Ministry of Defense of the UK, Helez and Galić discussed with Heappey the possibilities of expanding bilateral military cooperation between BiH and the UK and the further development of the Ministry of Defense and the Armed Forces of BiH. The interlocutors expressed their satisfaction with the bilateral military cooperation between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the UK, as well as their readiness to expand the cooperation in the field of joint training and exercises of the armed forces of the two countries.
Minister Helez thanked Heappey for the assistance that the UK Government continuously provides to the development of the Armed Forces of BiH, as well as BiH’s path to full membership in the NATO alliance. He emphasized the importance of the UK’s projects on strengthening military capacities, training officers, improving living and working conditions on training grounds and barracks, raising the level of training and promoting gender equality in the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Helez and Galić reiterated that Bosnia and Herzegovina’s path towards Euro-Atlantic integration is unquestionable, as it is defined by all the state’s strategic documents, and that only BiH’s membership in the EU and NATO provides an opportunity for prosperity for all residents and peoples in BiH.
The interlocutors also discussed the Russian aggression against Ukraine and the implications of this conflict for the situation in Europe and the Western Balkans. Minister Heappey emphasized that the UK, together with its European allies and the USA, will work to extend the EUFOR mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as a deterrent against possible major security threats.
“Bosnia and Herzegovina is an important partner for the United Kingdom. I shared my concern about the development of the situation in BiH, clearly emphasizing that the UK fully supports the unity and integrity of the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina,” said Minister Heappey on that occasion.
Earlier, during talks with high-ranking officials of the UK Ministry of Defence, it was confirmed to the delegation from BiH that the UK aid within the package for strengthening the defense capabilities (DCB) of BiH will reach one million pounds.
In a multi-day visit to London, Minister Helez and Deputy Minister Galić were at the invitation of the UK Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Clarion Defense & Security agency, which organizes the DSEI international military industry fair, which is just ending in London.
