Skopje, 23 July 2025 (MIA) - Minister of Defence, Vlado Misajlovski, and Minister of Interior, Panche Toshkovski, met with Turkish Minister of National Defence, Yaşar Güler, on the sidelines of the International Defence Industry Fair (IDEF 2025) in Istanbul on Wednesday. 

Participants in the meeting highlighted longstanding active defence cooperation based on a shared vision of maintaining stability and security in the region and development of the two countries, the Ministry of Defence said in a press release. 

"We continue to strengthen partnership through exchange of knowledge and expertise in all areas," interlocutors concluded. 

Minister Misajlovski mentioned the latest sophisticated equipment that has become part of the Army's arsenal - the Turkish ‘Boran’ howitzers, which are part of the artillery battery of the Light Infantry Battalion Group. He stressed that the Macedonian Army is convinced in the quality of the Turkish defence industry, expressing gratitude for the ongoing support from Türkiye, especially in the development of army capacities. 

"The Macedonian Army is going through the most intensive process of modernization and equipment so far, which is undoubtedly an investment in the security of Macedonian citizens. A stronger Army means a more reliable and secure collective defence in NATO," said the Minister. 

As part of his visit to Türkiye and the participation in the IDEF 2025, Minister Misajlovski also met on Tuesday with the Head of the Turkish Defence Industry Agency, Haluk Görgün, discussing the development of the defence industry and the need for increased investments in this area, as a way to strengthen the security of the allies.

"The Turkish defence industry is of interest to the Macedonian defence, especially given that the Army has already been equipped with six new 105-mm howitzers and other accompanying equipment from the companies Boran and Aselsan which were recently promoted to the Macedonian public," reads the press release. 

Photo: Ministry of Defence