NATO Approves First Individual Tailored Partnership Program with Bosnia and Herzegovina
NATO’s approval of the first Individual Tailored Partnership Programme with Bosnia and Herzegovina represents a historic advance in the country’s path toward membership, reinforcing defense cooperation and aligning national institutions with Alliance standards.
BRUSSELS — In a landmark move for Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Euro-Atlantic integration, NATO’s Partnership and Cooperative Security Committee (PCSC) today adopted the First Individual Tailored Partnership Programme (ITPP) between Bosnia and Herzegovina and NATO at the Alliance headquarters in Brussels.
The approval marks a historic milestone in the implementation of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Membership Action Plan (MAP), which represents the final phase before potential full membership. According to the Ministry of Defense, the ITPP is the result of close cooperation between Bosnian institutions, NATO Headquarters Sarajevo, and the Alliance’s political and military structures in Brussels.
Bosnia and Herzegovina currently holds the most advanced status among all aspirant countries in the region seeking NATO membership.
“The Ministry of Defense and the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina continuously align their activities, operations, and plans with NATO standards, leading the country on its Euro-Atlantic path,” said Defense Minister Zukan Helez. “Accession to NATO ensures the rule of law, greater security and stability, increased investments, and new jobs for our citizens.”
Minister Helez underscored that NATO membership would not only strengthen Bosnia and Herzegovina’s institutional and defense capacities but also provide guarantees of sovereignty and territorial integrity. He emphasized that in NATO’s 74-year history, no member state has suffered an act of external aggression, a record often cited as proof of the Alliance’s deterrent power.
The Ministry highlighted that every country joining NATO has experienced measurable progress across multiple sectors, including economic growth, enhanced institutional efficiency, and stronger security frameworks. Historical data from previous enlargement rounds show significant increases in foreign direct investment and GDP following accession.
“Bosnia and Herzegovina’s membership will contribute to strengthening the Alliance itself while making our country safer and more stable,” Helez added. “Euro-Atlantic integration—especially NATO membership—is a fundamental foreign policy priority of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and within my legal authority, I will do everything necessary to see that goal achieved.”
The adoption of the Individual Tailored Partnership Program formalizes Bosnia and Herzegovina’s most comprehensive cooperation framework with NATO to date, positioning the country one step closer to full membership in the Alliance.
