William Burns, the Director of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), went on an unannounced Balkan tour this week. He visited Sarajevo, Belgrade and Pristina, and is believed to also travelled to Bulgaria and North Macedonia.
A source from the US Government said for Radio Free Europe that during Burns’ visit to the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina he met with his Bosnian counterparts, members of the Presidency and the Foreign Minister of the country. According to the same official, who sought anonymity, the main topics of the conversations in Sarajevo referred to the “worrying secessionist rhetoric and actions” of the President of Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik.
Shortly after Burns’ visit to Sarajevo, Dodik stressed that the fight against terrorism was an obligation of the “entire free world”. Dodik added that Republika Srpska was committed to this fight and welcomed any cooperation in this area.
“Republika Srpska has never disputed the sovereignty and territorial integrity of BiH in accordance with the Dayton Agreement and secession has never been our policy. But Republika Srpska has the right to a political fight for its status, in accordance with the letter of the Dayton Agreement”, Dodik wrote on X.
Upon visiting Sarajevo Burns made a stop in Belgrade, but his visit had not been officially confirmed. According to the media reports, he was hosted by his counterpart the Director of the Serbian Security Information Agency, Vladimir Orlić.
Predrag Petrović, Director of Research at the Belgrade Center for Security Policy, said for Danas daily that the visit of the CIA’s Director to this region was unusual.
“He is the Director of the most powerful intelligence service in the world. It is unusual for such a person to visit such small countries, given that the Balkans are not at the top of the list of priorities of American foreign policy”, Petrović remarked.
He pointed out that other areas are much more important to the US, such as Ukraine, China or the Middle East, but that in the annual Threat Assessment for 2024, the US intelligence community also includes the Balkans.
“Two focal points are explicitly mentioned, namely Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Milorad Dodik and his secessionist threats are explicitly mentioned here”, Petrović underlined for Danas.
During the visit to Pristina William Burns met Prime Minister Albin Kurti, President Vjosa Osmani and the Director of the Kosovo Intelligence Agency. The Government of Kosovo claimed that it was “a historic visit”.
“This is proof of strong and stable relations between the two countries and is a golden opportunity for deepening strategic cooperation, for peace and security in the region and beyond”, the Government in Pristina reported.
In addition, Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani said that “the alliance with the United States is a guarantee of security, peace and success”
“It was a pleasure to welcome the Head of the US Central Intelligence Agency, Ambassador William Burns”, Osmani wrote on her Facebook page.