Skopje, 1 June 2022 (MIA) – Defense Minister Slavjanka Petrovska met with Director of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, James Hursch, in Washington on Wednesday. Talks focused on security cooperation programs, including military procurement, military funding, international military education and humanitarian aid. Petrovska pointed out that the Army modernization is top priority of the Ministry of Defense, and the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency has an important role in the process. “We are looking forward to the arrival of the first shipment of JLTVs for the Army of North Macedonia. We’re expecting the first six light tactical vehicles to arrive mid-summer, and this will be a major contribution in the process of Army modernization and further reaffirm the mutual trust and cooperation between North Macedonia and the U.S.,” said Petrovska, as cited by the Defense Ministry in a press release. She thanked for the continued U.S. support in this segment. Namely, since 1996, the United States have invested almost USD 150 million in equipment and modernization of North Macedonia’s Army. Hursch noted that North Macedonia is a close U.S. ally and cooperation in Army modernization and development will continue to develop.