State Secretary Matušić attends U.S.-Adriatic Charter meeting in Mostar

State Secretary for Political Affairs Frano Matušić participated in the meeting of the U.S.-Adriatic Charter (A5), held from 9 to 10 December 2025 in Mostar under the chairmanship of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The meeting featured two thematic sessions: "Collective Resilience in an Era of Hybrid Threats and Crises" and "Euro-Atlantic Integration and a New Vision for A5 in a Changing Geopolitical Environment."

Participants placed particular emphasis on further strengthening communication among A5 members and making more robust use of available mechanisms to enhance the region's resilience and security, as well as to advance Euro-Atlantic integration. In this context, they underscored the importance of cooperation in addressing hybrid and cyber threats, and highlighted the need to strengthen energy resilience across the Western Balkans.

In his address, Matušić stated that Croatia commends the progress made by Bosnia and Herzegovina toward the European Union and remains committed to providing continued support. He stressed the need to reinforce security in light of geopolitical challenges, to invest in defence and energy independence, and to maintain a firm commitment to the stability of the Western Balkans by supporting the region's Euro-Atlantic path and countering hybrid threats.

He underlined that Croatia will continue to promote regional cooperation and share its experience and expertise from the EU accession process, as well as its know-how in the fields of cyber and energy security, with the support of the United States as a key strategic partner in ensuring the stability of Southeast Europe.

He further noted that these priorities - together with support for the Charter countries on their path toward Euro-Atlantic integration - will form the core of Croatia's upcoming presidency of the initiative.

The goal of the U.S.-Adriatic Charter is to strengthen good-neighbourly relations, enhance regional security and stability, and promote democratic values and the Euro-Atlantic aspirations of Western Balkan countries.

The conference in Mostar marks the conclusion of Bosnia and Herzegovina's one-year chairmanship of the initiative. The Republic of Croatia will assume the rotating presidency of the U.S.-Adriatic Charter next year.

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