The Minister of Defense of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Zukan Helez, requested the establishment of a NATO base in Bosnia and Herzegovina during a meeting with NATO officials in Brussels. He also stated that Russia must not be allowed to penetrate the heart of Europe through the Western Balkans. Experts in the security situation and military policy say that such a scenario is not inconceivable. They remind that NATO already has its bases in the countries of the region.
The Minister of Defense of Bosnia and Herzegovina states that it is necessary to improve cooperation between Bosnia and Herzegovina and NATO. This would include, among other things, the strengthening of the defense system of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the equipping of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina. That is why the existence of a NATO base in Bosnia and Herzegovina is a realistic option, says Minister Helez.
ZUKAN HELEZ, Minister of Defense of Bosnia and Herzegovina
“It is very possible, very realistic and it depends on the political situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina as to how it will unfold. I cannot talk about the details, but we specified and agreed in detail everything that NATO needs to do for Bosnia and Herzegovina, they have procedures, it has EUFOR, it has NATO and it has the bilateral support of the most powerful NATO member countries.”
This is a desirable option, according to some military analysts. If security is not at the highest level and there is a threat to NATO members, that scenario is possible. There are already bases in Albania, a US base in Kosovo, and the establishment of one in Montenegro is also planned. Therefore, before joining NATO, it is possible to increase the military presence of NATO forces, although Althea is still there, with Russia’s announcement that it will withhold support for the extension of this mission in the fall.
NEDŽAD AHATOVIĆ, military politician
“I don’t know exactly when NATO will realize it and in what way, but there is certainly a certain scope for such types of NATO activities to be implemented when it comes to the region and to continue in the coming period in other countries that are immediately before Bosnia and Herzegovina joined NATO, like North Macedonia and Montenegro.”
It is a response to possible threats, say those familiar with the security situation. The ideal location for those purposes could be the Dubrava military airport and base near Tuzla. On the other hand, some believe that it is as realistically feasible as Russia opening its base on the territory of Republika Srpska. There is no political agreement on these issues, says security expert Predrag Ćeranić. Such allegations, he says, undermine the political and security situation.
PREDRAG ĆERANIĆ, Dean of the Faculty of Security Sciences in Banja Luka
“Not a single minister, not even the Minister of Defense of Bosnia and Herzegovina, can decide on this, especially public policies in the field of security are a very sensitive topic, but these and other important decisions are reached in a certain way by constitutional and legal regulations.”
The atmosphere is further complicated by the Russian influence on the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina, according to the opinion of security experts, as well as Minister Helez himself. Apart from Russia, there is the Chinese influence and that with great political interest. That is why this space is interesting for NATO members.
HAMZA VIŠĆA, security expert
“The Chinese have admitted that there is also a political interest behind it, which implies that in reshaping the world order, the existence of authoritarian regimes should be legalized, that they should be just as legal as democratic ones and that they should not be demonized in terms of human rights. This was joined by Russia and expressed interest in the Balkans.”
Although we are an interesting ground for various world political interests, it is the most difficult for domestic politicians to protect the interests of the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Most of them would feel safer living under the NATO umbrella, BHRT writes.
