By Xhelal Neziri
The Republic of North Macedonia (RNM) marks today the fifth anniversary of its membership in the North Atlantic Alliance (NATO), a military and political structure consisting of 32 states, forming what we know today as the West.
This membership has proven to be highly visionary, considering the war in Ukraine—which began in 2022 when Russia launched a full-scale invasion—the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, and ongoing tensions in the Balkans. By joining NATO, North Macedonia reduced Russia’s influence and solidified its strategic orientation toward the West, which is expected to be completed with accession to the European Union (EU).
The fact that Russia failed to keep RNM out of NATO integration does not mean that Russian influence has ended. Former Russian ambassador to Skopje, Oleg Shcherbak, stated in March 2018 that if the country joined NATO, it would become a legitimate target for Russia in the event of a war between East and West. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov also warned the West that NATO’s expansion, including North Macedonia, would be seen as a provocation against Russia.
In June 2017, NATO admitted its 29th member—Montenegro. After RNM, Sweden and Finland also joined, both bordering Russia’s northern frontier. Reports suggested that Montenegro’s accession was a risky process, as Moscow had supported an attempted coup.
The signing of the Prespa Agreement on June 17, 2018, was met with enthusiasm in Brussels but skepticism in Skopje and Athens. From the beginning of negotiations between former prime ministers Zoran Zaev (RNM) and Alexis Tsipras (Greece), it became clear that the 27-year-long dispute was heading toward resolution. As the historic agreement approached, the rivalry between the West and Russia manifested in various forms in RNM and Greece. On November 19, the parliamentary majority barely managed to “convince” eight opposition MPs to support the constitutional amendments, which required a two-thirds majority (at least 80 votes). In January 2019, Parliament approved the changes, and by March 30, 2020, the ratification process was completed in all 29 NATO member states, raising RNM’s flag at NATO headquarters in Brussels.
Now, five years later, the debate is whether it was worth it. As an alliance that is not only military but also political, NATO guarantees not just security for its members but also promotes democratic values, fights crime and corruption, ensures judicial independence, financial stability, efficient public spending, economic growth, and foreign direct investments. These elements constitute the so-called “NATO effect,” which has been experienced by Eastern European and Balkan countries that have been NATO members for over a decade.
In 2009, Albania joined NATO alongside Croatia. Since then, foreign investments in Albania have tripled, and employment has risen from 900,000 to nearly 1.15 million. Bulgaria experienced similar economic growth after joining NATO in 2004. Before accession, the average salary in Bulgaria was about 300 leva (150 euros), while by 2018, it had increased to nearly 1,200 leva (600 euros).
In North Macedonia, foreign investments tripled. In 2020, they were only $226 million, but a year after NATO accession, they doubled to $551 million. This upward trend continued in 2022, reaching $780 million, while 2023 closed with $667 million in foreign investments. The unemployment rate, which stood at 16.4% in 2020, dropped to just 13.1% by 2024.
Of course, NATO cannot magically solve all the problems of new member states, but it provides a solid foundation for development. These benefits of joining a stable military-political system were taken into account as early as 1993 when Parliament voted for North Macedonia’s NATO membership.
Founded in 1949 as a response to the Soviet Union’s threat, NATO has played a crucial role in protecting peace and security in democratic countries. The importance of NATO’s existence is especially evident today, as Russia continues its invasion of Ukraine and attempts to undermine the stability of democratic states in Europe.
Concerns about the U.S. commitment to NATO—especially after Donald Trump’s return to the White House—are unfounded, as the American president has stated that he will respect Article 5 of the Washington Treaty, which obliges member states to act under the principle of “one for all, all for one.” NATO Secretary General Mar Rutte recently reiterated to Russian President Vladimir Putin that “if he dares to touch a NATO country, he will face a ruthless response.”
Therefore, being under this great security umbrella is seen as an investment that has paid off, especially for a small state like North Macedonia in a region with major challenges like the Balkans.
