Bosnia and Herzegovina and NATO Adopt New Partnership Program for 2025-2028

Historic Partnership Program Adopted in Brussels

Bosnia and Herzegovina and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) officially adopted an Individual Tailored Partnership Programme (ITPP) for the period 2025-2028 on October 24, 2025. The significant agreement was formalized during a meeting at NATO Headquarters in Brussels between the Commission for Cooperation with NATO of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the NATO Partnership and Cooperative Security Committee (PCSC).

The ITPP represents a new framework designed to strengthen cooperation and reinforce reform processes within Bosnia and Herzegovina. Josip Brkić, Chair of the BiH Commission and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, led the Bosnian delegation.

Key Objectives and Framework of the ITPP

The newly adopted ITPP aligns with NATO's 'One partner, one plan' concept, which aims to unify and coherently manage existing partnership mechanisms and NATO programs in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The document provides a comprehensive framework for cooperation, drawing its strategic goals from Bosnia and Herzegovina's Reform Program, which serves as the primary guide for relations with NATO.

Key areas of cooperation under the ITPP are expected to include:

• Support for democratic, institutional, security sector, and defence reforms.
• Crisis management.
• Cyber defence.
• Aero-medical evacuation.
• Managing consequences of incidents involving chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear (CBRN) substances.
• Countering terrorism.

Statements and Broader Context

During the adoption, NATO Allies welcomed Bosnia and Herzegovina's efforts in preparing the document. They reiterated their full support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina and emphasized the importance of continued cooperation for regional stability.

Radmila Shekerinska, NATO Deputy Secretary General, congratulated Bosnia and Herzegovina on the adoption, describing it as a 'historic moment and a confirmation of the strong partnership between BiH and NATO.' Shekerinska highlighted that the ITPP is a concrete demonstration of the strong partnership that contributes to BiH's security and the stability of the entire region.

The ITPP is a successor to previous cooperation frameworks, including the Individual Partnership Action Plans (IPAPs), which Bosnia and Herzegovina joined in February 2008, and the Partnership for Peace (PfP) program, which the country joined in 2006. While the ITPP signifies a deepening of ties, officials stressed that its adoption does not prejudge any final decision regarding Bosnia and Herzegovina's potential membership in the Alliance.