William Joseph Burns, director of the CIA, visited Bosnia and Herzegovina where he met with Intelligence and Security Agency director, Almir Džuvo, as well as members of the Presidency and the Minister of Foreign Affairs. The US Ambassador to Bosnia, Michael Murphy, accompanied Burns during the meetings.
Burns discussed the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Bosnia and Herzegovina, addressing concerns about the secessionist rhetoric of Milorad Dodik, President of the Republika Srpska entity. After his visit in Sarajevo, Burns will travel to Belgrade, emphasizing the USA’s interest in the Western Balkans region.
Notably, this is not Burns’ first visit to Bosnia, as he previously visited in 2012 as US Deputy Secretary of State. During that visit, he engaged with members of the BiH Presidency and representatives of the Council of Ministers.
The discussions held during Burns’ visit further strengthen the diplomatic relations between the USA and Bosnia and Herzegovina, underscoring the importance of cooperation in addressing regional and global challenges.