During the previous three days, a meeting was held with officials from the U.S. Department of Defense (Pentagon), including the Chief of the U.S. National Guard (NG) Bureau, General Daniel Hokanson, Deputy Director General of the U.S. Armed Forces Joint Chiefs of Staff Strategies, Policies, and Plans, Major General Brett Sylvia, and U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Laura Cooper.
This was an opportunity to discuss current bilateral cooperation between the Armed Forces of the U.S. and AFBiH, and to exchange views and positions on current security and other challenges that the world is facing today, but also to a large extent BiH and AFBiH.
The need to develop the current cooperation was emphasized, as well as to create opportunities that will ensure the successful implementation of the legally defined tasks of the AFBiH, and also its prescribed missions.
Further, U.S. Department of Defense officials expressed full commitment and support to the Open Door Policy project and, accordingly, continued support for BiH on its further path to Euro-Atlantic integration.
In addition, Masovic stressed the need to improve the overall capacity of the AFBiH through commitment and maximum support in the full implementation of the process of modernization of the AFBiH and the implementation of training in modern systems.
The interlocutors expressed readiness to improve the support and assistance from the U.S. in the process of securing and strengthening the overall capacities of the AFBiH, together withfull implementation of the defined goals and tasks from the documents “Defense Review” and “AFBiH Development and Modernization Plan”.
During the visit, General Masovic visited the West Point Military Academy, where he met with BiH cadets who are studying at this high military institution.
As planned, Masovic will also meet with top Maryland officials, Governor Larry Hogan, NG Maryland Commander Major General Timothy Gowen, and the Commander of 175th Wing of Maryland Air NG, Brigadier General Jori Robinson.
E.Dz.
