Five years after joining NATO, North Macedonia stands as a stable and reliable ally in the Western Balkans — a far cry from the fragile, newly independent nation it was three decades ago. For Trajan Gocevski, the country’s first defense minister and architect of its security system, the transformation is nothing short of historic.
“Security is never a gift,” Gocevski says in a conversation with BalkanView.com. “It’s the result of vision, persistence, and wise decisions made in the hardest of times.”
In an in-depth conversation with Inbox7, Gocevski retraces the country’s long and uncertain road from the chaos following Yugoslavia’s collapse to full NATO membership — a journey marked by political crises, military threats, intelligence scandals, and unrelenting reform.
From withdrawal to alliance: a 28-year path to NATO
When the last Yugoslav Army soldier left Macedonia on March 27, 1992, the country finally met a key international condition — no foreign troops on its territory. “That was the day Macedonia truly became an independent state,” Gocevski recalls.
Exactly 28 years later, on March 27, 2020, North Macedonia became NATO’s 30th member. “The withdrawal of the Yugoslav Army allowed us to build our own army. Membership in NATO cemented our independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity,” Gocevski says.
The process, he notes, was long and exhausting. It began with the government’s first decision to seek NATO membership in 1992, followed by a parliamentary resolution in 1993 and participation in the Partnership for Peace in 1995. The Adriatic Charter, signed with Albania, Croatia, and the United States in 2003, solidified the country’s regional cooperation.
After years of reforms and setbacks — including Greece’s veto at the 2008 Bucharest Summit — the Prespa Agreement in 2018 opened the door. Two years later, North Macedonia’s flag was raised at NATO headquarters in Brussels.
“It took nearly three decades, but every sacrifice paid off,” Gocevski says.
On the brink of war
Gocevski recalls the early 1990s as “a time when Macedonia walked on the edge of the abyss.” The Yugoslav National Army (JNA) still controlled the weapons of the Territorial Defense Force, and tens of thousands of Macedonian conscripts remained under its command. “We had independence on paper, but foreign troops on our soil,” he says.
Military commanders threatened airstrikes on Skopje and government buildings. Snipers were reportedly stationed on army rooftops targeting political leaders. “Any wrong step could have plunged us into war,” he says.
In those tense days, Gocevski proposed a three-pillar national security model: military defense, civil protection, and collective security through NATO membership. It was the first official signal of Macedonia’s Euro-Atlantic orientation.
Even as reforms advanced, Macedonia’s security institutions were plagued by scandals — from illegal wiretapping to political espionage. “The intelligence services, instead of protecting the state, often became key actors in destabilizing it,” Gocevski admits.
He lists cases spanning decades: The ‘Blue Bird’ affair, The Big Ear scandal, Target–Fortress, Zaev’s “bombs”, and the latest illegal surveillance operations involving judges, politicians, and businessmen.
“These abuses damaged our democracy and delayed Euro-Atlantic integration,” he says. “Trust in institutions is still recovering.”
Building a modern army
Since 2002, North Macedonia’s armed forces have been part of NATO missions — gaining experience, equipment, and professionalism. “We now have a capable, modern army that can respond to any challenge,” Gocevski says.
Modernization, he adds, is more than buying new weapons: “It means digitalization, cyber defense, and coordination between military and civilian structures. Technology and human capital are the future.”
In today’s world, the minister warns, “the threats are invisible.” Cyberattacks, disinformation campaigns, and hybrid influence operations pose serious risks to small states.
“Membership in NATO and our partnership with the U.S. remain the strongest stabilizing factors,” he stresses. “NATO provides technical support, intelligence sharing, and real-time data. That’s what keeps us secure in an unpredictable world.”
Security as a foundation for prosperity
Gocevski rejects claims that NATO membership brings no economic benefits. “Investors don’t put money in countries at risk of war,” he says. “NATO membership sends a clear signal: Macedonia is stable, predictable, and safe.”
The alliance, he argues, opened doors to foreign investment, better credit ratings, and stronger defense industries aligned with NATO standards. “Security and economy go hand in hand — one cannot exist without the other.”
As a final reflection, Gocevski offers a message to young Macedonians who grew up in peace: “Never underestimate the value of peace. What seems normal today was once uncertain and fragile.”
“Every generation has its mission,” he adds. “Ours was to protect the state. Theirs is to make it stronger, more developed, and more resilient.”