Skopje, 2 September 2025 (MIA) - A high-level delegation of the Romanian Armed Forces, led by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Gheorghiță Vlad, is paying an official visit to the Army of the Republic of North Macedonia Tuesday through Thursday.

In an official meeting between the Chief of the General Staff, Major General Sashko Lafchiski and General Vlad, cooperation between the two armies was confirmed and this year was assessed as extremely good and at high level. Successful cooperation in trainings and exercises as part of the B-9 initiative as well as in bilateral and regional activities was highlighted, the General Staff said Tuesday.

During the official meeting, the Romanian delegation was informed on the Army’s transformation, its participation in international missions of NATO, UN and EU and on the capacities of Krivolak training ground. Mutual support in meeting NATO goals was also discuss, as well as ways to improve interoperability, bilateral cooperation, including cooperation related to the special forces. 

“During the visit, General Vlad met with Defense Minister Vlado Misajlovski for talks on the two countries’ commitment to enhancing NATO’s eastern flank, security in the region as well as ways to develop bilateral cooperation. Minister Misajlovski highlighted the intensive defense cooperation that has been strengthening the interoperability of the two allied armies adding that the Macedonian servicemen will resume their contribution as part of the NATO multinational forces in Romania,” said the press release. 

The Romanian delegation is due to visit the special forces battalion at Ilinden barracks in Skopje to attend an exercise, organized by the unit.

On Wednesday, the Romanian delegation at the Boro Menkov barracks in Kumanovi will attend a ceremony for a handover of duties of the South East Defence Ministerial SEDM’s Coordination Committee and the Political Military Steering Committee and to mark the 26th anniversary of the establishment of the South-Eastern Europe Brigade (SEEBRIG), said the General Staff.

Cooperation between the Army and the armed forces of Romania is high-level, stated the press release.

The cooperation was upgraded in November 2023 with the Army participating with its own forces in Romania as part of NATO, including the Enhanced Vigilance Activity – eVA Battlegroup Initial Operational Capability (today it is part of the NATO activity “Forward Land Forces”) and the engagement of a staff officer in the Multinational Corps Southeast (MNC-SE) in Bucharest.

“These activities represent a solid foundation for further deepening and developing the partnership between the two armies,” the General Staff said. 

Photo: General Staff of the Army of the Republic of North Macedonia