61 percent of Serbs in the RS do not want BiH to have a relationship with NATO. Most Serbs believe that NATO has a negative role in the world. Less than 67 percent of Serbs have this belief, while 21 percent see a somewhat negative role for NATO and only 2 percent see a mostly positive role.
These are the findings of the research of the International Republican Institute (IRI) on the attitude towards NATO and international relations.
The survey was conducted from February 2 to March 5, 2024 and shows that half of all BiH residents want NATO membership, but also large differences between ethnic groups.
Even in this survey, the Serbs could not hide their desire to be in good relations and on the side of the Russian state, which continuously carries out attacks and fierce war in Ukraine.
“As for the foreign policy course, two percent think it should be only pro-EU and pro-Western, and 25 percent of the surveyed Serbs think it should only be a pro-Russian foreign policy course. However, 22 percent believe we should have equal relations with both the West and Russia,” the report says.
In total, 39 percent of the inhabitants of Bosnia and Herzegovina believe that the course of the country’s foreign policy should be only pro-EU and pro-Western, 12 percent that it should be pro-Western, but with relations with Russia, and 12 percent that it should be equally pro-Western and pro-Russian.
Ten percent think that a pro-Russian policy should be followed, while maintaining ties with the EU, and eight percent that only a pro-Russian policy should be followed.
According to the survey, exactly 50 percent of BiH citizens want BiH to join the NATO alliance, 13 percent want close cooperation but not membership, eight percent are for communication but against cooperation, 24 percent do not want to do anything with the NATO alliance.
The majority of BiH residents have a positive view of NATO’s role in the world. 30 percent think that the role is mostly positive, 27 mostly positive, while 13 percent think that NATO has a mostly negative role and 25 mostly negative in the world.
It is interesting that within the framework of the research, the opinion of the members of the constituent states on foreign policy and membership in NATO was examined and it was shown that Bosniaks have the most positive view towards pro-Western politics and NATO.
About 76 percent of Bosniaks believe that Bosnia and Herzegovina should become a member of NATO, and 59 percent that it should lead only a pro-EU and pro-Western foreign policy, 12 percent of Bosniaks think that it there should be a western policy but with relations with Russia. Also, 12 percent of Bosniaks are for close cooperation, but without NATO membership.
Also, 45 percent of Bosniaks see NATO’s role in the world as mostly positive, 42 percent as somewhat positive, and only three percent of Bosniaks see NATO’s role as mostly negative.
As for Croats, 61 percent of respondents believe that Bosnia and Herzegovina should become a member of NATO and 50 percent that they should only pursue a pro-EU and pro-Western policy. 12 percent are for pro-Western politics, but also for ties with Russia.
According to the survey, 42 percent of Croatians see NATO’s role in the world as mostly positive, 23 percent somewhat positive, and 15 percent mostly negative. / Click
