The Distinguished Visitors Day for the exercise “Flash 26” was held at the Army Training Area “Krivolak” today, 27 April, 2026.
The event was attended by the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, Minister of Defense Vlado Misajlovski, the Chief of the General Staff of the Army, Major General Sashko Lafchiski, the Commander of the NATO Rapid Deployable Corps – Greece, Lieutenant General Grigorios Bountliakis, the Chief of J-9 at NATO Allied Joint Force Command Naples, Rear Admiral Thorsten Marx, Army generals, members of the military-diplomatic corps, local government representatives and other guests.
In her address, President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova stated: “Our Army is a factor of stability and a guardian of global peace. Today, more than 180 members of the Army, under the Macedonian flag, are involved in peace support missions and operations.”
She also added that “the strength of a modern army is not measured solely by the equipment it possesses, but also by meritocracy in recruitment and promotion, continuous professional development, and dignified living and working conditions for the people in uniform.“ The President emphasized that “Exercise FLASH 26 is an encouraging and inspiring confirmation that the Macedonian Army understands the nature of the times we live in and is seriously preparing to face the challenges they bring”.
Following the demonstration exercise, Minister Vlado Misajlovski highlighted that those present “witnessed not only a demonstration of capabilities, but also discipline, precision, and a high level of professionalism,” noting that the “combat-ready” assessment is the result of the motivation and capabilities of Army personnel, as well as the intensive modernization and equipping process of the Macedonian Army.
“The Macedonian Army is taking a historic step forward in terms of its capabilities. We operate with new, sophisticated equipment, just like any other NATO army. Our personnel are on the same level as the others in the Alliance. We have full interoperability, which enables us to jointly defend what is most sacred to us, freedom, homeland, and democracy. To defend our values, which are deeply rooted in Macedonian society,” the Minister stated.
Minister Misajlovski congratulated all Army personnel involved in the organization and execution of this exercise, describing it as exceptionally complex, considering that more than 1,500 Army members worked on a fictional scenario involving 25 events and over 100 incidents.
The Chief of the General Staff, Major General Sashko Lafchiski, stated in his address:
“Our largest NATO capability target, the Light Infantry Battalion Group, has achieved the status of ‘mission capable’ or ‘combat-ready.’ This is a tremendous success resulting from a clear strategic direction and hard work. It is a success based on a sustainable and systematic process of planning, preparation, training, equipping, and modernization, carried out in accordance with the highest NATO standards”.
The General added: “Behind this achievement stands the collective effort of all Army personnel. It is an accomplishment resulting from the exceptional synergy between the Army and the Ministry of Defense, clearly defined through strategically directed mission and cohesion.”
Rear Admiral Thorsten Marx emphasized in his address that the country is a strong and reliable NATO ally, stating: “Since joining North Atlantic Treaty Organization in 2020, you have significantly improved your defense posture. You invest over 2 percent of GDP in defense and contribute to NATO missions, including Kosovo Force and NATO battlegroups. This demonstrates a true commitment to the Alliance and our shared security by evaluating units according to NATO standards”. He also stressed that: “FLASH 26 clearly demonstrates interoperability in action,” expressing satisfaction that the Light Infantry Battalion Group was assessed as “combat-ready to carry out its mission.”
Exercise “FLASH 26” is a continuation of the “Macedonian Flash” exercise series. More than 1,500 Army personnel participated in this exercise, during which the NATO capability target, the Light Infantry Battalion Group (LIBG), was evaluated. Following the assessment by the evaluation team and NATO monitors, the unit achieved the status of “combat-ready to carry out its mission.” With this evaluation, the LIBG confirmed its training, high combat readiness, and interoperability with allied forces.
