Skopje, 20 April 2026 (MIA) - Our country is a credible ally with an exceptionally high level of investments in the process of modernization and equipping the Army, thus jointly strengthening NATO's collective defense, said Defense Minister Vlado Misajlovski after a meeting with the United States Ambassador to NATO, Matthew Whitaker, in Skopje on Monday.

Minister Misajlovski and Army Chief of Staff, General-Major Sashko Lafchiski, welcomed Ambassador Whitaker in the Skopje-based Ilinden army barracks, discussing investments in the Army, fulfillment of the NATO capabilities goals and strengthening the Alliance's collective defense, the Army General Staff said in a press release.

Misajlovski said the defense budget has continually increased and is realized in accordance with the planned dynamics, noting that the country is on the right path to reach the agreed level of 3.5 percent of the GDP for the defense budget and additional 1.5 percent of GDP for defense-related activities and projects.

General Lafchiski briefed Ambassador Whitaker on the ongoing exercise "Flash 26", which includes the evaluation process for the Light Infantry Battalion Group (LIBG) with the purpose of meeting NATO’s capabilities goals, highlighting the support provided by the U.S. and other allies in this regard.

After attending a demonstration drill by the Special Forces Battalion and the Reconnaissance-Intelligence Battalion, Ambassador Whitaker toured a display of the Army's armament, equipment and vehicles.

Chargé d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Skopje, Nicole Varnes, Army generals, and representatives of the Ministry of Defense also attended the event.

The visit of Ambassador Whitaker is a strong reaffirmation of the partnership and alliance between the Republic of North Macedonia and the United States, reads the press release.