SKOPJE, July 6 (Xinhua) -- A Macedonian Army contingent of 71 troops will join Saber Guardian 2017 multinational exercise taking place in Romania and Hungary from June 23 to July 26, Macedonias Defense Minister Radmila Sekerinska declared Thursday during the send-off ceremony.
Saber Guardian exercise is a U.S. European Command, U.S. Army Europe-led annual exercise taking place in Romania, Hungary and Bulgaria but Macedonian servicemen will attend exercises in first two countries.
This exercise involves more than 25,000 service members from over 20 ally and partner nations and is the largest of the Black Sea Region exercises, a press release of ministry of defense said.
Minister Sekerinska further said the SG17 provided an excellent platform for exercises of the armed forces of participating countries, including Macedonia, in an attempt to build readiness and improve interoperability under a unified command.
She also announced she would travel to Romania in mid-July to visit the Macedonian troops there.
On the other hand, minister Sekerinska said that once the exercise was completed, a squadron of nearly 300 members of the U.S. Army Europe with more than 100 vehicles and equipment from Romania via Bulgaria would arrive in Macedonia for the exercise Dragoon Guardian from July 28 to Aug. 8.
"We are especially proud of our units which have been taking part in military exercises alongside our partners, the United States and other NATO countries, "Minister Sekerinska said at ceremony.
According to her, such investment in joint security and in Macedonia's defense capacities would result in an improved Army, strengthened defense and the country's membership to NATO.
