Dr. Mara Karlin, performing the duties of Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, welcomed the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) to the Pentagon, February 1. President Bećirović, President Komšić, and President Cvijanović, Chairwoman of the Presidency, participated in the first joint visit by the BiH Presidency to the U.S. since 2005.
The delegation discussed bilateral defense cooperation, including BiH's partnership with the Maryland National Guard, now in its twentieth year.
Dr. Karlin voiced the United States' strong support for defense reforms in BiH and for continued collaboration via BiH's partnership with NATO. Dr. Karlin also stressed the need for a robust state-level budget to enable the Armed Forces of BiH to maximize their potential.
