North Macedonia and its importance in NATO

North Macedonia has a long period of time making strides for NATO and EU integration. The continuation of these integration processes have been important points of good neighborly relations with the countries of the Balkan region, and more importantly the relations with Greece on changing the name of Macedonia. Each time a common ground has been reached to reach a name agreement between Macedonia and Greece, there has been a tendency for both governments to cancel any positive move. Finally, the Macedonian government came after the last parliamentary elections of 2016, where the Macedonian left party with some smaller Albanian parties managed to form a government, a government that, after 30 years of political clashes between Greece and Macedonia, reached the point, a common point between Greece and Macedonia to change the name of Macedonia into North Macedonia, a point that was reached with the Prespa Agreement and paved the way for North Macedonia’s NATO accession.
The Balkan integration processes in the North Atlantic structures have influenced the stabilization of the Balkans in possible new wars, after that of Kosovo and North Macedonia. After Albania and Montenegro joined NATO, it was northern Macedonia’s turn. In period of the COVID-19 pandemic, Spain also adopted the decision to join North Macedonia in its structures.
Northern Macedonia’s accession to NATO has both geostrategic and economic significance. North Macedonia in NATO, for the Balkans will also say an important point of regional stabilization, the establishment of a wall for the fight against terrorism as well as stabilization and economic security of the country for investment but also of the region.
NATO member states, especially the new states that have been admitted to its structures, have resulted in security and economic growth, which is also expected for the state of North Macedonia.
After NATO, as a military organization of world security, helped many states during the Cold War, in some ways contributed in part, not in total, to the fact that you saw divisions within member states in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. But now this NATO structure will focus on new missions to assure member states, regions and peoples a global peace. North Macedonia contributes to regional security for the Balkans as well as the East – West divide in this security space. The current participation of North Macedonia in NATO, and in the future of Kosovo, but perhaps also of Serbia, would be the completion of the Western Balkans mosaic for long-term peace, security of nations and regional economic stability.

PhD. Ali Maksuti