North Macedonia Joins the NATO Block
The burgeoning military-to-military relationship between the United States and North Macedonia, continued U.S. commitment to the mutual defense of Europe and North Macedonia’s impending accession into the NATO alliance were among the topics discussed in a meeting at the Pentagon between Defense Minister of North Macedonia Radmila Sekerinska and Katie L. Wheelbarger, the U.S. acting assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs.
Here are three things to know about the U.S.-North Macedonia relationship:
It’s a Long-Standing Partnership
North Macedonia and the Vermont National Guard have worked together since 1993 under the National Guard Bureau’s State Partnership Program. In 1995, North Macedonia joined NATO’s Partnership for Peace initiative. Today, North Macedonia is a strong contributor to the NATO missions in Afghanistan and Kosovo. Its military also is a partner in regional initiatives to enhance cooperation and security in the Western Balkans, which includes Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia. North Macedonia is increasing defense spending, with a clear plan to invest 2 percent of its gross domestic product in defense by 2024, in line with the level agreed upon by all NATO members.
More Cooperation is on the Horizon
Moving forward, the United States is committed to increasing partner capacity with North Macedonia and regional integration for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief events — one of the greatest challenges facing Western Hemisphere nations.
North Macedonia’s NATO Accession
At the alliance’s summit in July, the 29 NATO nations invited North Macedonia to start its membership accession process to join NATO. Once all 29 NATO allies ratify the accession protocol, North Macedonia will become the alliance’s 30th member. The United States, along with NATO allies and partners, are supporting efforts by countries like North Macedonia to achieve peace and prosperity for their people, to chart their own course, and to build the resilience necessary to resist Russian influence and meddling, Pentagon officials said. The U.S. supports North Macedonia’s efforts to achieve full Euro-Atlantic integration, implement judicial reforms, strengthen its democratic institutions, combat corruption and develop a competitive free-market economy, they added.
27 March 2020, North Macedonia became NATO’s newest member, upon depositing its instrument of accession to the North Atlantic Treaty with the US State Department in Washington DC. NATO Allies signed North Macedonia’s Accession Protocol in February 2019, after which all 29 national parliaments voted to ratify the country’s membership.
Macedonia achieved independence in 1991 with the peaceful breakup of Yugoslavia. Recognition was delayed because of Greece’s objection to Macedonia’s use of “Macedonia,” and the country was initially recognized as the “Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.” The United States recognized FRYM in 1994 under the provisional designation and began referring to Macedonia by its constitutional name, Republic of Macedonia, in 2004. Macedonia and Greece signed the Prespa Accord in June 2018 which, among other things, resolved the decades-long dispute over the Republic of Macedonia’s name. In February 2019, Macedonia’s name changed to the Republic of North Macedonia.
Modern Flag of North Macedonia
Recognition
U.S. Recognition of Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, 1994.
The United States recognized the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia on February 9, 1994. At the same time, the United States announced its intent to establish full diplomatic relations with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.
History of Diplomatic Relations
Establishment of the U.S. Liaison Office in Skopje, 1993.
The United States established a Liaison Office in Skopje on December 3, 1993. Robert L. Normanwas the Acting Principal Officer.
Establishment of Diplomatic Relations, 1995.
On September 13, 1995, U.S. President William J. Clinton announced that he had been in correspondence with President of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia Kiro Gligorov to establish diplomatic relations, and announced that “I have received his positive response and can confirm that diplomatic relations now exist between our two countries.”
Elevation of U.S. Legation to Embassy Status, 1996.
On July 29, 1996, Christopher R. Hill presented his credentials as the first U.S. Ambassador to the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.