Bujanovac – An international military exercise "Platinum Wolf 17" starts, today, at the “Jug” military base near Bujanovac, in which 450 soldiers from nine countries will take part, the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Serbia stated.  

80 members of the National Guard from the US state of Ohio, who will participate in the said military exercise, arrived in Belgrade on Sunday.

In addition to the hosts, soldiers from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Hungary, Slovenia, Great Britain and Montenegro will join them.

Members of the US armed forces were welcomed at the "Nikola Tesla" airport by the Minister of Defense Zoran Djordjevic and the US Ambassador to Serbia Kyle Scott.

The "Platinum Wolf 17" military exercise will last until June 23, and it is a continuation of cooperation that will deepen in the coming years, the Minister said.

The use of "non-lethal weapons will be rehearsed, as well as the procedures for engaging in multinational operations and those used in multinational environments," while one of the goals of the exercise is also the exchange of experience between the units that was gained in the previous engagements in peacekeeping operations, it was said in a statement issued by the Ministry of Defense.

The Army of Serbia cooperates with over 60 countries, while a key objective of the joint military exercise and training is "increasing operational and functional abilities of the Army of Serbia," it was said in the statement.

This year’s plan of bilateral military cooperation with the United States includes over 130 activities, among which are seven joint military exercises, as well as additional 41 activities, which are part of the International Military Education and Training program.   

Source: Radio and Television of Serbia, “Politika” daily, “Danas” daily and Coordination Body