The Chief of the Joint Staff of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Colonel General Senad Masovic, participated in a video conference on Friday, organized on the occasion of the international military exercise “Immediate Response 21”, which will be held next year.
In a conversation with the Commander of the US Armed Forces Europe Command (USEUCOM), Colonel General Christopher G. Cavoli, General Masovic presented the preparations of the BiH Armed Forces so far regarding the implementation of the exercise.
He also informed him about the situation in BiH and the activities of the Armed Forces BiH during the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, as well as the assistance of the BiH Armed Forces to the civilian population and institutions in BiH in the fight against the spread of the pandemic.
During the talks, strong support was expressed by the US Armed Forces to the BiH Armed Forces in order to further develop and strengthen the capabilities of the AF BiH, and strengthen the interoperability and compatibility of the AF BiH in accordance with NATO standards.
Also, General Cavoli expressed readiness to continue the successful cooperation so far, and the US assistance and support to Bosnia and Herzegovina on its path to Euro-Atlantic integration and full membership in NATO. In this regard, the possibility of General Cavoli’s visit to the Joint Staff of the AF BiH was announced in order to discuss the possibilities of new types of cooperation.
Exercise “Immediate Response 21” is planned to be realized next year, in addition to four more exercises organized by the US Armed Forces Command for Europe (USEUCOM). The participating countries are: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, Albania (as host countries), then the USA, Greece, Northern Macedonia, Slovenia, Canada and the United Kingdom.
The Armed Forces of BiH will host one part of the exercise, and so far, the Initial and Main Planning Conference have been realized within the preparations.
The participation of the Armed Forces of BiH has been approved by the Presidency of BiH, and only the Armed Forces of BiH and the Armed Forces of the United States will participate in the exercise in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The arrival of the USAREUR Team (Ground Forces Command of the US Armed Forces for Europe) is also expected to get acquainted with the preparations for the exercise.
In addition to Colonel General Senad Masovic, his video conference was attended by his Deputy Major General Ivica Jerkić and Major General Gojko Knežević, Chief Sergeant of the Armed Forces BiH Mario Bagarić, as well as US Military Attaché to BiH Brigadier Michael Tarquinto and newly appointed Chief Office of Defense Cooperation of the US Embassy in BiH, Major Taib Grozdanic.
