Defence from the Perspective of a Western Balkan Ally: North Macedonia

Senior Course 143 travelled to Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia as part of their third Field Study. This was a key opportunity to engage with high-level practitioners, including the President of the Assembly, Members of Parliament, representatives from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Defence, in order to gain insights into the defence and security priorities and challenges faced by this Balkan nation.

The visit started at the Assembly of the Republic of North Macedonia, where the President of the Assembly, Mr Talat Xhaferi, welcomed the Commandant of the NATO Defense College (NDC), Lieutenant General Max A.L.T. Nielsen, and Senior Course 143.

The Republic of North Macedonia became the 30th member of NATO in March 2020. In his speech, the President acknowledged the difficult path to NATO membership, highlighting the challenges the country had to overcome. He affirmed the Republic of North Macedonia’s commitment to NATO, the only stable defence alliance bringing countries together for more than 70 years. Additionally, he stressed the great value of the education provided at the NATO Defense College, helping to understand current and future security challenges and to develop strategic thinking.

Course Members met with Mr Mile Talevski, Member of Parliament and Chairperson of the Committee on Defence and Security, to discuss North Macedonia’s defence policies and security force structures, as well as the country’s efforts to improve security and stability. Experts from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Defence elaborated on the several security challenges faced by North Macedonia and how the country is addressing those, with a forward-looking defence approach, which includes clear goals and priorities.

The security of the Western Balkans is crucial for NATO, and the briefings underscored North Macedonia’s dedicated efforts to bolster regional cooperation with neighbouring states, a key step in maintaining peace and stability in the area. As a committed NATO Ally, North Macedonia has set its sights on reaching the 2% of GDP target for defence spending by 2024. To strengthen defence capabilities and deterrence, the country has focused on modernizing its military capabilities, enhancing infrastructure and strengthening human capacity. Beyond these objectives, North Macedonia remains committed to providing enduring support to Ukraine and is resolutely striving for full membership of the European Union.

Following the briefings, the NDC Commandant engaged in bilateral meetings with North Macedonia’s Chief of General Staff, Lieutenant General Vasko Gjurchinovski, and the country’s Minister of Defence, Ms Slavjanka Petrovska. The Chief of General Staff emphasized North Macedonia’s commitment to prioritizing peace, security and stability, highlighting the country’s advances in the defence sector over the past five years. Expressing gratitude for North Macedonia’s contributions to the NDC, the Commandant explored avenues for enhancing cooperation and engagement between the NDC and North Macedonia. Moreover, the Minister of Defence underscored the pivotal role of the College in nurturing human knowledge, an indispensable asset for effectively tackling evolving security challenges. She also underscored that North Macedonia was a good example of decision-making by consensus (one of the core teachings at the NDC and the accepted norm for NATO decisions), as the interests of and interactions between different ethnic and religious groups need to be taken into account and kept in harmony.

Course Member Mr Jonatan Weinberg, German Counsellor, highlighted how the stop in Skopje seamlessly integrated into the Field Study programme, providing insights into the perspectives of yet another small country (following visits to Denmark and Slovakia) regarding its defence strategies and priorities. He pointed out that every country, regardless of its size, can make independent contributions towards the security of the Alliance.

NDC Public Affairs Office
(
Prepared by Ms Sofia Carvalheiro, PRT C)