A high-ranking military delegation from the Armed Forces of the Republic of Türkiye, led by the Chief of the General Staff, General Metin Gürak, visited the General Staff of the Army today as part of an official visit to the Republic of North Macedonia.
Following the welcoming ceremony with military honors, General Gürak met with his host, the Chief of the General Staff, Major General Sashko Lafchiski. During the meeting, the strong cooperation with the Turkish Armed Forces, a key strategic partner, was reaffirmed. The three-decade-long collaboration has been particularly evident in areas such as training, military education, and joint participation in international operations and missions. Many of the North Macedonia’s rotations, including the most recent one under the EU/ALTHEA mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina, have been conducted under the Turkish contingent’s command.
General Lafchiski emphasized that Türkiye, as a strategic partner, has significantly contributed to the modernization and equipping of the Army with new, NATO-compatible equipment. Recent donations include drones, communication equipment, night vision devices, and logistics equipment for the special forces of the Army.
General Gürak expressed gratitude for the hospitality and reaffirmed Türkiye’s commitment to maintaining a high level of military cooperation. He also highlighted the importance of further deepening of the collaboration in training and education of the Macedonian Army personnel at prestigious Turkish military institutions.
During the official discussions, the Turkish delegation was briefed on the ongoing modernization and transformation processes within the Army, our contributions to international missions, and the potential use of the Training Area Krivolak for exercises and training activities.
As part of the visit, the Turkish delegation attended a demonstration exercise by the Special Forces Battalion, showcasing the unit’s skills and readiness.
Following the activities at the General Staff, General Metin Gürak, accompanied by General Lafchiski, will meet with the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Army, Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova.
