North Macedonia to host military drill with Albania, Montenegro, Kosovo and USA
A twelve-day military exercise will take place in North Macedonia in May and June, with 1850 troops from Albania, Montenegro, Kosovo and United States, Macedonian officials announced
During Immediate Response, which takes place primarily in the Balkan region, the 34th Infantry Division’s Minnesota National Guard Headquarters—an Infantry Battalion Task Force—and other enablers deployed from the U.S. to Europe will join host nation and Europe-based troops in more than two weeks of training.
“The Minnesota National Guard is excited to take part in DEFENDER 23, an exercise that demonstrates and improves upon the U.S. Army’s ability to integrate with our Ally and partner nations to increase scale, capability and interoperability of rapidly-deployed forces,” said Army Maj. Gen. Shawn Manke, Minnesota National Guard adjutant general. “It’s an especially exciting year for us as we arrive in Europe in time to celebrate twenty-seven years of the State Partnership Program relationship between Minnesota and Croatia.”
The Department of Defense’ State Partnership Program, which is managed and administered by the National Guard Bureau, guided by State Department foreign policy goals, and executed by state adjutants general in support of combatant commanders and the U.S. Chief of Mission is currently celebrating its 30th anniversary.