The SEEBRIG (Southeastern Europe Brigade) Command officially concluded its six-year mission in the Republic of North Macedonia during a ceremonial event held today at the “Boro Menkov” Barracks in Kumanovo.
The Command will now be relocated to Istanbul, Republic of Türkiye.
The ceremony was attended by Minister of Defence Vlado Misajlovski, Chief of the General Staff of the Army of the Republic of North Macedonia Sashko Lafchiski, members of the diplomatic corps, and delegations from the initiative’s member states.
SEEBRIG Commander Brigadier General Bilbil Bitri said that leaving Kumanovo was accompanied by mixed emotions, emphasizing that the city had become much more than the location of the headquarters over the past six years.
“Over the past six years, Kumanovo has been more than just the location of our headquarters—it has been our home,” Bitri said, thanking the Government, the Ministry of Defence, the Army, the Municipality of Kumanovo, and the citizens for their support and hospitality.
He noted that during the brigade’s stay in North Macedonia, multinational interoperability, regional military cooperation, and partnerships among participating countries had been strengthened.
“Although the headquarters may relocate, the friendships and partnerships established during these six years will endure. From now on, Kumanovo and North Macedonia will always hold a special place in SEEBRIG’s history,” Commander Bitri said.
Minister of Defence Vlado Misajlovski said today’s ceremony marked the end of a successful chapter in which North Macedonia hosted the SEEBRIG Command.
“Six years of achievements, strengthened trust and partnership, and new lasting friendships. That is SEEBRIG! One of the most successful examples of regional defence cooperation,” Misajlovski said.
He stressed that the presence of the Command in Kumanovo represented much more than an organizational responsibility and further strengthened relations among the participating countries.
“Although today we are saying farewell to the SEEBRIG Command in Kumanovo, our cooperation will continue from its new location in Istanbul. Our contribution to the Brigade’s activities continues because this regional project is of enormous importance to all of us,” Misajlovski said.
Greek Ambassador and Chairman of the SEDM Process Eleftherios Angelopoulos also addressed the event, describing SEEBRIG’s successful operation in Kumanovo as proof of the strength of regional cooperation and the shared commitment to peace and stability.
“Today is not only a farewell ceremony; it is also an opportunity to reflect on what we have achieved together and reaffirm our collective commitment to regional peace, security, and cooperation,” Angelopoulos said.
According to him, SEEBRIG remains one of the most significant achievements of the SEDM Process and will continue fulfilling its mission from its new headquarters in Istanbul while further strengthening regional cooperation and security.
The SEEBRIG Command has been stationed at the “Boro Menkov” Barracks in Kumanovo since August 2020, when North Macedonia assumed the role of host nation.
Over the past six years, officers from several member states worked together in the city on planning, training, and coordinating multinational activities aimed at improving regional security and military cooperation.
SEEBRIG is a multinational brigade established in 1999 within the framework of the South-Eastern Europe Defence Ministerial (SEDM) Process.
Its members are Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, North Macedonia, Romania, and Türkiye. Its mission is to strengthen trust, interoperability, and cooperation among the region’s armed forces, while maintaining readiness to participate in peacekeeping and humanitarian operations under international mandates.
Following six years in Kumanovo, the Command is relocating once again to Istanbul, Türkiye, where it will continue its activities.