Skopje, 22 January 2026 (MIA) – The Chief of the Army General Staff, Major General Sashko Lafchiski, attended the regular NATO Military Committee meeting over the past two days, held at the level of Chiefs of Defence of NATO and partner countries.

At the meeting presided over by the Chair of the NATO Military Committee, Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, Secretary General Mark Rutte spoke Wednesday, thanking participants for their continued support and strong leadership in bolstering allied deterrence and defense. Speaking on this occasion, NATO Secretary General Rutte underlined the progress made since the Hague Summit, including increased defense investments, strengthened military production, and ongoing support for Ukraine. He concluded: “We will continue to work closely with our partners around the world, because security is a shared effort.”

According to the General Staff, Admiral Dragone, in his address, emphasized that the security situation remains extremely complex, highlighting the war in Ukraine, instability and violence along NATO’s southern flank, ongoing tensions, as well as the activities of other malign actors that continue to threaten global stability. Reflecting on NATO’s activities, Admiral Dragone underlined that during the past year, successful operations such as “Baltic Sentry” and “Eastern Sentry,” along with an increased number of military exercises, have enhanced NATO’s readiness and its defense and deterrence capabilities, demonstrating the exceptional adaptability of NATO’s strategic commands. He concluded by stressing that security is not only the responsibility of politicians and the military but affects everyone in the Alliance member states.

“This is why we require not only support but also true commitment from the over one billion people we are dedicated to defending,” Dragone noted.

At the meeting, General Alexus G. Grynkewich, Commander of NATO’s Supreme Allied Command in Europe (SACEUR), informed the Chiefs of General Staff about NATO’s preparedness in enhancing the Alliance’s collective deterrence and defense. Admiral Pierre Vandier, Commander of NATO’s Allied Command Transformation, outlined his vision for the future, highlighting how NATO is speeding up the provision of critical capabilities to ensure the Alliance’s forces are ready for present threats and emerging security challenges. Particular emphasis was placed on partnerships, including the NATO-Ukraine Council, Indo-Pacific partners, and the European Union.

During the meeting, General Lafchiski participated actively in discussions on global security challenges, NATO’s deterrence and defense capabilities, interoperability, threats and risks, and cooperation with partner countries. He emphasized the Army’s commitment to regional security through its participation in peacekeeping missions, operations, and NATO activities abroad, particularly the NATO mission in Kosovo (KFOR), the EU Operation ALTHEA in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and NATO’s Forward Land Forces (FLF) initiative in Bulgaria and Romania.

General Lafchiski spoke about the national exercise “Flash 26,” aimed at assessing Light Infantry Battalion Group as North Macedonia’s main NATO capability target. The exercise will align national and NATO commitments and further strengthen Army readiness through continuous modernization and equipment upgrades.

On the sidelines of the meeting, General Lafchiski held a bilateral meeting with the Chief of the Hungarian General Staff, General Gábor Böröndi, during which they discussed deepening bilateral military cooperation, with a focus on joint training between members of the Army and the Hungarian Armed Forces, as well as opportunities for equipment and modernization.

While in Belgium, General Lafchiski held a meeting with Army personnel assigned to North Macedonia’s National Military Representation at NATO Headquarters in Brussels.

The Chair of the Military Committee (CMC), Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, presided the meeting, with the participation of the 32 Allies, along with the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR), General Alexus G. Grynkewich, and Supreme Allied Commander Transformation (SACT), Admiral Pierre Vandier. Allied Chiefs of Defence also met with counterparts from NATO Indo-Pacific Partners, Georgia and Ukraine.

Photo: Army General Staff