North Macedonia’s NATO commitment under fire

North Macedonia's NATO membership was hailed as the greatest achievement in the country's history. The ratification of the accession protocol was even done during a pandemic. The accession was preceded by an attempted coup in April 2017, writes ALSA.

With the country's membership, the largest political-military alliance in the world established clear lines in the region between military allies and security violators, especially in the Balkans, CE Report quotes Kosova Press.

NATO found its 30th ally in the Western Balkans, providing inviolable guarantees for the state's security, especially now that in the heart of Europe, Russia is invading countries that are not members of the North Atlantic Alliance.

But did anyone think that North Macedonia, the most vulnerable point in the Balkans and NATO's connecting bridge with Greece and Turkey, would find itself in this position, with the deputy prime minister of a NATO country participating in an event in Belgrade commemorating the "NATO Aggression" against Serbia?

Ivan Stoilkovic, Deputy Prime Minister for Inter-Community Relations, was seen alongside Milorad Dodik of Republika Srpska and Serbian President Aleksandar Vuçiq.

His participation in this event came precisely on the 5th anniversary of membership, which, whether unintentionally or not, sent a clear signal to NATO about where the country is aligning itself.

The Prime Minister did not have a clear answer as to why his deputy went to Belgrade.

"I think that for the reasons why Stoilkovic is there it is better to ask Stoilkovic himself," said Hristijan Mickoski, the prime minister.

WLEN, wanting to cover the sun with a sieve, says that Kosovo is an independent state whose independence has been recognized by North Macedonia.

"As we have said before, we cannot pretend to make him (Stoilkovic) Albanian. The official position of our state is known and it is irreversible," say VLEN.

DUI described Stoilković's participation in Belgrade as an open provocation towards the country's Euro-Atlantic orientation.

"A shameful act and an open provocation to the country's Euro-Atlantic orientation. The government once again shows its true face, aligning itself with those who deny the genocide and oppose the West," say the DUI.

It is not the first time that Stoilković has crossed the strategic interests of the state.

In May 2023, he participated in the Moscow Security Summit, while in January of this year, he brought Dodik to Skopje, who in his speech clearly expressed anti-NATO and anti-EU positions, two determinations to which the current government has sworn that there is no other alternative.

Furthermore, Stojlković is a deputy prime minister committed to ensuring the implementation of the Ohrid Agreement, the pact that guaranteed stability, security and equality between communities in the country, and above all preserved the foundations and borders of the state.