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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Advancing bilateral military cooperation with United States

Belgrade, 16 September 2026

Minister of Defence in a caretaker capacity Bratislav Gašić met today with the Adjutant General of the Ohio National Guard, Major General Matthew Woodruff.

On this occasion, Gašić highlighted the significance of the 20-year cooperation with the Ohio National Guard under the State Partnership Program, adding that the two nations are linked by nearly 150 years of diplomatic relations as well as numerous shared values.

The Minister emphasised that a new chapter in bilateral relations between the two countries opened in July of this year with the first session of the Strategic Dialogue between the Republic of Serbia and the United States, attended by representatives of the Ministry of Defence, demonstrating both nations' commitment to expanding and deepening their partnership.

He conveyed the intention of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces to enhance bilateral military cooperation with the US for mutual benefit, and expressed gratitude for the assistance the US provides to Serbia's defence system through numerous donations, training and education programmes, exercises, and other activities.

During the meeting, Gašić noted that cooperation between the Serbian Armed Forces and the United States Armed Forces is substantive and focused primarily on achieving interoperability and equipping the Serbian Armed Forces with new military assets.

The Minister highlighted the importance of the assistance provided by the United States Armed Forces to the Serbian Armed Forces in the preparation, organisation, and execution of the Platinum Wolf exercise.

Speaking about the situation in Serbia's southern province, he stressed that the issue of Kosovo and Metohija is a matter of the utmost national importance for Serbia and expressed concern regarding the safety of the Serb and other non-Albanian populations.

Woodruff underlined that the Serbian Armed Forces are a key partner of the Ohio National Guard and that their cooperation is vital for strengthening mutual understanding, trust, and professional ties between the military personnel of both countries.

He expressed satisfaction that the cooperation is not one-sided but rather mutually beneficial, noting that both sides take the opportunity to exchange experiences and learn something new.

The Ohio National Guard Adjutant General confirmed that he will attend events marking the historic ties between Serbia and the US, such as the commemoration of the 82nd anniversary of Operation Halyard, according to a statement from the Ministry of Defence.