Although there is a sincere will both in Bosnia and Herzegovina and within NATO for BiH to join, obstacles mainly arise within domestic political and institutional structures, but resolving certain formal and legal aspects is only a matter of time. This was said today at the opening of the three-day Sarajevo Security Conference, which brought together around 300 participants from more than 20 countries, organized by the New Lines Institute for Strategy and Policy.
Hikmet Karčić: BiH can offer solutions to Europe
The Director of the Sarajevo Security Conference, Hikmet Karčić, stated before the opening of the conference that Bosnia and Herzegovina, as a country with rich experience in wartime events and specialized industry, can significantly contribute to the redefining of the new European security architecture.
“BiH has the capacity to offer Europe concrete solutions in the event of major security challenges, and this is precisely one of the key goals of this conference,” said Karčić.
He particularly emphasized the importance of the fact that NATO is the official partner of the conference, which, as he said, confirms the existence of mutual will – both in BiH and within NATO – for Bosnia and Herzegovina to join the alliance.
“Obstacles mostly occur within domestic political and institutional structures, but I believe it is only a matter of time,” added Karčić.
He emphasized that BiH already has institutions and individuals involved in NATO structures, although it is not yet a member, and that the conference sends a message of mutual benefits.
“This year, for the first time, we also have the support of state institutions, which further confirms the importance of the partnership between civil society and NATO,” concluded Karčić.
The role of the academic community and international experts
Associate Professor at the University of Salzburg Dženeta Karabegović stated that the organization of the Sarajevo Security Conference confirms that Bosnia and Herzegovina is a relevant location for discussions on security in the European and global context.
“We have guests from all over the world, academics, politicians, representatives of industry and institutions, which shows that Sarajevo can be a place for serious discussions on security issues,” said Karabegović.
She emphasized that the goal of the conference is not to accelerate the process of BiH’s membership in NATO, but to demonstrate the country’s readiness to be part of that alliance.
“Each panel features experts working in or connected to BiH, which shows that there are people around the world who care about Bosnia and Herzegovina and who will continue to lobby for it on the international stage,” she added.
Speaking about redefining European security, Karabegović emphasized that there is increasing talk about the need for new partnerships and the inclusion of actors that were not previously considered relevant.
“In this context, Bosnia and Herzegovina, although a small country, can play a significant role as a location that initiates important security discussions,” she concluded.
Support from international partners
The Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Henk van den Dool, stated that his country is proud to support the Sarajevo Security Conference.
“When the organizers from New Line approached us three years ago, we wondered if another security conference was really necessary. Today, I can proudly say that we are part of this important event,” said the Dutch ambassador.
He emphasized that the world is changing rapidly and not necessarily in a positive direction, and that it is important to have open discussions about the security architecture.
“Sarajevo is in the heart of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bosnia and Herzegovina is in the heart of Europe, and Europe is the heart of the world. It is here that we can have key discussions about the future of our security,” said the Dutch ambassador.
Organization and significance of the conference
The conference was launched in 2023 by the Strategic Analysis Initiative, a non-profit and non-governmental think tank based in Sarajevo. Since January 2024, both the initiative and the conference have been operating under the auspices of the Western Balkans Center at the New Lines Institute, an independent research and policy organization based in Washington, D.C.
Key participants at the Conference include three senior NATO representatives: Radmila Šekerinska, NATO Deputy Secretary General and the first senior Alliance official from the Western Balkans; Admiral Sir Keith Blount, Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe (DSACEUR) and NATO’s second-in-command for operations in Europe; and General Aurelio Colagrande, Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Transformation (DSACT), responsible for the modernization and transformation of Allied forces, who will be visiting the region for the first time since his appointment to that position.
Focus on new security challenges
Over the course of three days, the Conference will host international experts, including representatives from NATO, the European Union, Atlantic and European think tanks, academia, and the armed forces of the United States, Canada, and Italy.
The focus of SSC 2025 will be on new European security frameworks, with an emphasis on strengthening coordination, the resilience of democracy, and addressing challenges such as authoritarian influences, hybrid warfare, and geopolitical instability.
