Ankara: Bosnia and Herzegovina needs stronger NATO-backed investment and development initiatives alongside continued security support, experts said Tuesday at a panel on the Balkans' Euro-Atlantic integration held as part of the NATO Summit Dialogues. Hosted by the Turkish Atlantic Council and the Center for Foreign Policy and Security Research at the Turkish Industry and Business Association (TUSIAD) in Ankara, the panel focused on the Balkans' Euro-Atlantic integration and regional tensions.

According to Anadolu Agency, the panel was moderated by former Turkish Ambassador Hakan Okcal and featured prominent speakers such as Dijana Gupta, president of the Bosnia and Herzegovina Atlantic Council and a professor at the University of Mostar, Edward P. Joseph of the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, and former Bulgarian Ambassador to the US Elena Poptodorova. Gupta emphasized the necessity of NATO and the European Union's continued support for Bosnia and Herzegovina, citing security, peace, economic development, and investment as critical needs for the country.

Gupta noted that while Bosnia and Herzegovina has received support for producing modern weapons through the arrival of US and NATO headquarters and assistance from countries like Trkiye, France, and Germany, there remains a pressing need for more NATO-backed projects. "I think the most important goal for us, after building a bigger NATO, would be to organize an investment seminar for Bosnia and Herzegovina," she stated.

Joseph highlighted the summit's focus on defense industrial production in relation to the Balkans, underscoring the key message of "European self-reliance." He argued that Europe is assuming a larger share of the defense burden amid the Russian threat, which he believes also threatens the United States. Joseph contended that self-sufficiency is not feasible for the Balkans, as the region remains dependent on the United States, despite Europe's claims of achieving strategic autonomy.

Joseph pointed out the imbalance in the Balkans, noting that Serbia's population alone exceeds that of several neighboring countries combined, which he believes is the main reason for the region's unresolved issues. He stressed that while Serbia is not the sole source of tensions, unlike Belgrade, "every single one" of the region's other countries is committed to joining NATO.

Poptodorova reflected on the challenges faced at this year's NATO summit, describing it as one of the most difficult she has attended. She attributed the uncertainty to the divergent views within the Trump administration on NATO's future, questioning whether the administration is committed to rebalancing NATO or intends to withdraw from Europe's security architecture. Despite the focus on the Balkans, Poptodorova observed that Southeast Europe or the Western Balkans has not received sufficient attention, although US engagement in the region remains driven by strategic interests.