North Macedonia is celebrating the fifth anniversary of its NATO membership this month—one of the country’s most significant geopolitical achievements since gaining independence. On March 27, 2020, the national flag was raised at NATO headquarters in Brussels, officially placing the country under the Alliance’s collective defense umbrella.
Euronews Albania journalist Ferikan Iljazi provided a report on the journey that led to North Macedonia’s NATO accession, following numerous political obstacles.
“Membership came after a long period of negotiations and the resolution of various political disputes, particularly the name issue with Greece. The Prespa Agreement, reached in 2018, resolved this by officially changing the state’s name to ‘North Macedonia’,” she explained.
In an increasingly tense geopolitical climate—especially following Russia’s aggression in Ukraine and unrest in the Balkan region—NATO membership has gained even greater strategic value for North Macedonia.
“The country’s NATO accession was hailed as the greatest achievement in its modern history. It came after an attempted coup in April 2017. With North Macedonia’s membership, the world’s largest political-military alliance drew clearer lines in the region between military allies and threats to security, especially in the Balkans,” Iljazi reported.
