In 2025, a year marked by important decisions for the future of collective security, the latest Annual Report of the NATO Secretary General shows that Bosnia and Herzegovina, together with the wider Western Balkans, is still among the Alliance’s main priorities. The report goes into more detail about the concrete steps NATO has taken to strengthen resilience and security capacities in the region, with a clear focus on supporting institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Bosnia and Herzegovina: A Turning Point in Partnership Relations
For Bosnia and Herzegovina, the past year was an important turning point. In October 2025, the Alliance approved the first Individually Tailored Partnership Programme (ITPP), which opened a new framework for cooperation and made the partnership more structured than before. NATO’s commitment to the country’s stability was demonstrated by visits from top officials – the Secretary General in March and the Deputy Secretary General in September.
NATO’s support in Bosnia and Herzegovina has moved from political statements to concrete capacity-building projects. The first support package was delivered through the Defence and Related Capacity Building (DCB) initiative. Special attention has been given to modernization and a response to modernthreats. The Estonian Academy for e-Administration began a series of training sessions to improve the cyber defense of Bosnia and Herzegovina, while the “Science for Peace and Security” program established the Next-Generation Incident Command System, which enables domestic institutions to coordinate more efficiently in critical situations.
At the institutional level, the Agency for Education and Professional Training (AEPTM) introduced new counter-terrorism courses with support from the Alliance. At the same time, the increased presence of NATO Headquarters Sarajevo and the Liaison Cell for support to political engagement continues to provide crucial support to defense reforms. In addition, NATO maintains close cooperation with the European Union, actively supporting the EUFOR Althea Operation through “Berlin Plus” arrangements, which ensure a secureenvironment in the country.
The Western Balkans: A Strategically Important Region
The report also shows that the Western Balkans remains a region of strategic importance for NATO. The largest security engagement is still in Kosovo, where the KFOR mission, with around 5,200 soldiers from 33 countries, continues to keep the situation stable, especially at a time of increased tensions..NATO firmly supports dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina facilitated by the EU, while also maintaining contacts with Serbia to resolve issues of regional significance by supporting its participation in activities organized by the Partnership for Peace.
Countries in the region that are NATO members, including Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Croatia, and Slovenia, are also recognized for their role. By staying more alert, spending more on defense, and taking part in different missions, they help strengthen the overall security of the Alliance.
Global Context: Historic Investment and Response to the Russian Threat
These regional activities are taking place in a year that NATO has described as a turning point globally. At the 2025 summit in The Hague, a historic Defence Investment Plan was adopted. Member States have committed to allocating 5 percent of GDP to defense by 2035, with 1.5 percent dedicated to civil readiness, societal resilience, and the military industry.
The main reason for this mobilization is Russia, which is still considered the most direct threat to international order. Because of that, NATO launched operations like “Eastern Sentry” and “Baltic Sentry” in 2025 to protect its eastern flank, as well as important underwater infrastructure. At the same time, support for Ukraine has continued to grow and become more organized. This also includes the creation of the NATO-Ukraine Joint Analysis, Training, and Education Centre (JATEC) in Poland. This shows that the Alliance plans to support Ukraine over the long term and continue defending its sovereignty, N1 writes.
