Skopje, 10 April 2025 (MIA) - The Defense Ministry is spending more than 32 percent of its budget on process of modernizing the Army, which is much higher than the 20 percent required by NATO, said Defense Minister Vlado Misajlovski who attended Thursday the Seven Stars 25 exercise at the “Alekso Demnievski - Bauman” army barracks in Veles, where the South-Eastern Europe Brigade’s (SEEBRIG) command is located.

“We have several contracts for modernization. We are working on finalizing deals for the arrival of the Stryker vehicles, and we hope they will arrive by the end of the year as per the agreement. Additionally, there are also the remaining JLTV vehicles that are expected to arrive this year as per the agreement with the US. The agreement with Turkey is also set to expire this year and everything that is included in it is expected to arrive, as well as the MISTRAL missiles and the Boran howitzers,” Misajlovski told journalists. 

The Defense Minister said efforts are being made to realize the contract with Italian company “Leonardo” for the procurement of helicopters, a process which, he said, is filled with great challenges.

“We are working hard, and we are being aided by a company which is perhaps among the best legal consultants in Europe in our efforts to overcome all legal challenges that arose in the past. Many mistakes have been made, and the contract was signed hastily. We are working to remove all challenges and ensure the helicopters arrive next year,” Misajlovski stressed.

At the Seven Stars 25 exercise, Minister Misajlovski stressed that the development of interoperability between the countries that participate in SEEBRIG, which are also NATO members, is valuable for the efforts to boost security in the region, as well as the alliance’s collective security.

He congratulated the SEEBRIG command and all participants for the professionalism and high standards demonstrated in the organization of the exercise.

Photo: MIA