Vermont–North Macedonia National Guard Partnership Explained

Vermont-North Macedonia State Partnership
Origin:	1993
Country President:	Gjorge Ivanov
Prime Minister:	Nikola Gruevski
Minister Of Defense:	Talat Dzaferi
Ambassador1 Region:	U.S.
Ambassador1:	Zoran Jolevski
Ambassador2 Region:	Macedonia
Ambassador2:	Paul D. Wohlers
Adjutant General:	Major General Steven A. Cray
Engagements Year:	2012
Engagements:	17
Nato Member:	Yes(2020)
Eu Member:	No

The Vermont–North Macedonia National Guard Partnership is one of 25 European partnerships that make-up the U.S. European Command State Partnership Program and one of 88 worldwide partnerships that make-up the National Guard State Partnership Program. The partnership between the Vermont National Guard (VTNG) and the Army of the Republic of Macedonia (ARM) has flourished since its establishment in 1993.^[1] In 2012, the VTNG was awarded the Macedonian Military Order of Merit by President Gjorge Ivanov, in appreciation of VTNG's commitment to the ARM. Vermont continues to support Macedonia's armed forces as their professionalism and capability increase.

History

• 79 Macedonian soldiers co-deployed with the 86th IBCT (MTN) in OEF X.
• The President of North Macedonia visited Vermont in September 2009.
• In 2012, President of North Macedonia awarded Vermont National Guard with highest military decoration, the Military Order of Merit.
• 15 Military-to-Military (M2M) events scheduled for completion in 2013, to include the 2013 NATO Comprehensive Operations Planning Division (COPD) Logistical Exercise 2013, which will be held in North Macedonia.
• Contention with Greece over constitutional name continues to challenge acceptance into EU/NATO.

Partnership focus

The focus of the partnership is accession into NATO and the EU.

Military to Military (M2M):

• Continued commitment to reaching Security Cooperation Goals
• Continued support for Non-Lethal Weapon capability and PKO deployments
• Support ARM Transformations for 2015 (Med Inf Btl Grp)
• Trilateral engagements (Vermont, North Macedonia, Senegal)

2013 events include Operational Logistics, National Defense Organization and Cyber Security.

External links

• Web site: Items Tagged with 'Vermont National Guard' . EUCOM. News items and photographs.
• Web site: vermont macedonia . Defense Video Imagery Distribution System (dvids). Macedonians at Camp Ethan Allen, news items and photographs.
• Web site: A Guide to the United States' History of Recognition, Diplomatic, and Consular Relations, by Country, since 1776: Macedonia . Office of the Historian . Department of State, United States of America . 22 September 2017. Outline of contemporary diplomatic relations with Macedonia.
• Web site: Baily, Jess L . Republic of Macedonia Towards Fully-fledged NATO Membership . 30 August 2017 . U.S. Embassy in Macedonia.

Notes and References

1. Book: Boehm, William B . Nestell, Derek . Stearns, Steven . The National Guard State Partnership Program: Forging and Maintaining Effective Security Cooperation Partnerships for the 21st Century . 2014 . Arlington, Va . National Guard Bureau, Office of Public Affairs, Historical Services Branch . 12.