Serbia and NATO Hold Distinguished Visitors Day During Joint Tactical Exercise
Serbia and NATO conducted a distinguished visitors day during a multinational tactical exercise at the Borovac training ground near Bujanovac. Around 600 personnel from Serbia, Italy, Romania, and Türkiye participated in the drill, focused on peace support and interoperability tasks.
The Serbian Armed Forces and NATO held a distinguished visitors day on May 22 during the multinational tactical exercise NATO-Serbia at the Borovac training ground near Bujanovac.
The event was attended by Serbian Defense Minister Bratislav Gasic, Serbian Armed Forces Chief of General Staff Gen. Milan Mojsilovic, NATO Deputy Assistant Secretary General Kevin Hamilton, and Admiral George Wikoff, commander of NATO Joint Force Command Naples. Diplomats, defense attachés, and senior military officials from participating countries also observed the exercise.
According to the Serbian Ministry of Defense, approximately 600 troops from Serbia, Italy, Romania, and Türkiye took part in the drill. Military planners and observers from several NATO member states and partner countries were also present, including representatives from the United States, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, and Montenegro.
The exercise was organized jointly by the Serbian Army Ground Forces Command and NATO Joint Force Command Naples. Activities included responses to attacks on checkpoints, medical evacuation procedures, reconnaissance missions, urban combat operations, area search tasks, and helicopter insertion drills.
Exercise director Col. Branislav Stevanovic stated that the scenario and tasks were designed for units intended for peacekeeping missions and required a high level of operational readiness and coordination among participating forces.
NATO Deputy Assistant Secretary General Kevin Hamilton said the exercise demonstrated cooperation between the Serbian Armed Forces and NATO partners and contributed to regional stability and interoperability. He also stated that NATO intends to continue practical cooperation with Serbia while respecting the country’s policy of military neutrality.
The Serbian Ministry of Defense said the exercise was conducted on the basis of a Serbian government decision and forms part of Serbia’s ongoing cooperation with NATO through the Partnership for Peace framework. The ministry added that the activities are intended to improve operational capabilities and strengthen mutual confidence and understanding in the region.
