Defense ministers discuss industrial cooperation at Balkan Shield summit

During the ‘First Balkan Shield – Defence Industry Expo and Summit 2026’ in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, several nations engaged in high-level defense industry discussions aimed at strengthening bilateral ties and technological exchange.

Egypt’s Minister of State for Military Production, Salah Suleiman Gembala, met with Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Minister of Defence, Zukan Helez, to discuss joint production, technology localization, and cooperation in mine action and demining. Helez highlighted the potential for training cooperation, noting Egypt’s experience in UN peacekeeping missions.

In a separate development at the summit, Egypt’s Ministry of Military Production signed a memorandum of understanding with Turkey’s Mechanical and Chemical Industry Corporation (MKE). The agreement involves Egypt’s Heliopolis Chemical Industries and Helwan Engineering Industries to foster industrial partnerships and exchange technical expertise in the defense sector. Additionally, Turkish defense firm ASELSAN met with Bosnian officials to explore projects aimed at enhancing Bosnia and Herzegovina’s defense and security capacities.