Serbia, NATO launch first-ever joint military exercise

The first joint military exercise between the Republic of Serbia and NATO is being held this week and next week at the “Jug” base and the “Borovac” training ground near Bujanovac, organised by the Serbian Army’s Land Forces Command and NATO’s Joint Force Command Naples.

The exercise, titled “NATO–Serbia”, involves around 600 personnel from the Serbian Armed Forces and the armed forces of Italy, Romania and Türkiye, alongside military planners and observers from the United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, Romania, the United States, Serbia, Türkiye, France and Montenegro, the Serbian Ministry of Defence informs.

The exercise is led by Colonel Branislav Stevanović, deputy commander of the Third Army Brigade.

Running until May 23, the tactical-level drill provides members of the Serbian Armed Forces and NATO member states with an opportunity to exchange operational experience and best practices.

Over the course of the two-week field exercise, troops will rehearse tactics, techniques and procedures used in peace support operations, including base security, checkpoint operations, crowd control and urban combat scenarios.

The exercise is being conducted in line with a decision adopted by the Serbian government and represents a continuation of what officials described as mutually beneficial, concrete and transparent cooperation between Serbia and NATO under the Partnership for Peace programme, while respecting Serbia’s policy of military neutrality.

According to the statement, the cooperation is aimed at preserving peace and stability in the region, enhancing the operational capabilities of the armed forces and strengthening trust and mutual understanding.

Serbian officials added that participation in international exercises improves the readiness of Serbian Armed Forces commands and units to carry out a broad range of missions, including peacekeeping operations, while reaffirming the country’s commitment to cooperation with international partners and the preservation of regional peace and stability.

By Aghakazim Guliyev