Macedonia and the United States foster an excellent military cooperation and partnership, Minister of Defense Zoran Jolevski said at Tuesday's meeting in Skopje with Deputy Commander of US Land Forces in Europe, Maj. Gen. Timothy McGuire.

Jolevski said that joint military exercises and participation in peace missions, including the Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan, served as a confirmation of the countries' partnership, the Ministry of Defense said in a press release.

He commended the possibility opened for joint drills in Macedonia of the US elite forces with the Macedonian special regiment.

Maj. Gen. McGuire welcomed the decision of Minister Jolevski for sending young officers to study in the US calling them 'future leaders and decision-makers in the Macedonian Army.'

Their talks also focused on the possibility of organizing joint exercises between the Macedonian Army and the US land forces in the army barracks Krivolak.

At the same time, they discussed the Macedonian Army's contribution to peace-keeping missions and future plans for joining UN-led missions.

During his visit to Skopje, Maj. Gen. McGuire also met with his host, Chief of Macedonian Army General Staff, Lt. Gen. Metodija Velichkovski.