THE NORTH ATLANTIC DIRECTION OF THE REPUBLIC`S OF NORTH MACEDONIA FOREIGN POLICY

Abstract

After the declaration of independence, the Republic of North Macedonia began to build
independent foreign policy, the most important place in which was occupied by relations
with the United States and NATO. In the context of the collapse of the bipolar system and
instability in the Balkan region, cooperation with Brussels and Washington was of particular
importance for the Macedonian republic.
Macedonian policy towards the United States and NATO in the first decade of its
independent existence was determined by the unstable situation in the region caused by the
lack of democratic transit in the FRY. The existence of a threat to national security from the
Milosevic regime forced the Macedonian republic to actively cooperate with the Alliance,
which was primarily expressed in joining the Partnership for Peace program in 1995.
During the conflict of the Macedonian army with an extremist pro-Albanian organization
in 2001, the United States and NATO (along with the EU) participated in the settlement process,
which led to the signing of the Ohrid Agreements. In the future, the “North Atlantic vector” of
Skopje’s foreign policy became clearer, which was explained by the need to resolve the name
dispute with Greece. In line with this process, the recognition of the Macedonian republic by
the United States under the constitutional name took place, as well as a similar decision by
Skopje in relation to Kosovo. With the beginning of the crisis in relations between Russia
and the United States in 2013 the movement of most states of the Balkan region (including
Macedonia) towards NATO has become more intense, as a result of which the Republic of
North Macedonia became a member of the North Atlantic Alliance in 2020.
Thus, relations with the United States and NATO currently occupy a key position in the
foreign policy of the Republic of North Macedonia in the context of larger processes.