“First Balkan Shield – Defence Industry Expo and Summit 2026” held

On the first day of the international arms and military equipment fair “First Balkan Shield – Defence Industry Expo and Summit 2026”, the Deputy Chair of the Council of Ministers and the Minister of Defence of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Zukan Helez, held a range of meetings aimed at strengthening cooperation with partners.

During the meeting between Helez and the Deputy Minister of Defence of the Republic of Turkiye, Salih Ayhan, there were talks regarding matters of mutual interest and further enhancement of the bilateral cooperation, stated the Ministry of Defence of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Bilateral military cooperation is realized through donations, training, exercises, schooling, exchange of experience and projects of modernization and equipment of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It was concluded that the Turkiye Republic is continuously and concretely supporting Bosnia and Herzegovina within the defence and security field, and that Turkiye, as the NATO member and an important partner of Bosnia and Herzegovina, plays a significant role in strengthening defence capacities of our country, modernizing and equipping the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as in the development of their interoperability in accordance with NATO standards.

The education and training of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina personnel in the Republic of Turkiye holds a special place in bilateral cooperation, where so far more than 6, 000 cadets, soldiers, NCOs, and officers from Bosnia and Herzegovina have passed different forms of training and education at the military academies in the Republic of Turkiye, including the Army and Air Force academies.

A particularly significant segment of the cooperation is the training program for 60 Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina pilots over a ten-year period, which represents a major contribution to the development of our air force capabilities.

“Bosnia and Herzegovina extremely cherishes the Republic of Turkiye as a friendly country and a reliable partner. We especially appreciate the continuous support from the Republic of Turkiye to the development and modernization of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as the support in the field of education, training, equipping, and development of new capabilities. We are grateful for the support so far and the readiness of the Republic of Turkiye to continue contributing to strengthening defence capacities of Bosnia and Herzegovina through concrete projects.

I am convinced that there is room for further expansion of cooperation, particularly in the fields of modernization, development of drones and anti-drone capabilities, education and training, air forces, exchange of experiences and the development of interoperability. Bosnia and Herzegovina remains devoted to the continuation of the open dialogue and building even stronger partnership with the Republic of Turkiye, in the interest of peace, stability and security of Bosnia and Herzegovina and a broader region,” Minister Helez emphasized at the end of the meeting.

On this occasion, the Deputy Minister of Defence of the Republic of Turkiye, Salih Ayhan, pointed out that Bosnia and Herzegovina has the unconditional support of the Republic of Turkiye on the path to NATO membership. He also announced the intensification of cooperation in the field of defense by increasing the number of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina personnel who will participate in training in the Republic of Turkiye, as well as joint participation in military exercises.

He particularly announced support for the realization of the projects regarding the procurement and introduction of the Bayraktar TB2 system into operational use, as well as KIRPI II armored vehicles, as well as mini-UAV systems.  He also announced support for the finalization of the Military-Financial Agreement, cooperation on the maintenance of personnel carriers and tanks, as well as the continuation of education and training for the second group of Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina pilots in the Republic of Turkiye.

During the day, Minister Helez also met with the Deputy Secretary of the Defense Industry of the Republic of Turkiye, Ihsan Kaya. On that occasion, he pointed out the readiness of the Ministry of Defense of Bosnia and Herzegovina to continue implementing the existing Military-Financial Cooperation Agreement, as well as the expectation of signing a new agreement in 2026. He also emphasized openness to cooperation with Turkish defense industry companies aimed at strengthening the capacities and capabilities of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as linking them with defense industry companies from Bosnia and Herzegovina.

During the Czech Business Forum, Minister Helez met with the Ambassador of the Czech Republic, Jana Šindelková, representatives of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and representatives of the security and defense industry of the Czech Republic.  

Helez expressed satisfaction that the Czech Republic was present at this forum with a strong and representative delegation, emphasizing that the participation of seven Czech defense industry companies, together with representatives of the relevant industry, sends a strong message and shows the importance of cooperation between our countries in this field.

During the meeting, it was emphasized that Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Czech Republic are friendly countries that nurture good and substantive relations, and the cooperation continuously improves. In that context precisely, the cooperation in the defense industry sector has a special potential.

“The defense industries of the Czech Republic and Bosnia and Herzegovina are in a period of development and expansion, possessing significant capacities, knowledge, and experiences, as well as the ambition to further position themselves on the international market,” Minister Helez emphasized.