The Department of State underscores the United States’ commitment to its security partnership with Macedonia, highlighting the nation’s role as a steadfast NATO Ally and the impact of its NATO membership on bolstering security, stability, and prosperity in the Western Balkans. Secretary Antony Blinken’s visit to Skopje for the OSCE Ministerial Council prompted this emphasis, according to MIA reports from Washington.

The bilateral cooperation between the United States and Macedonia prioritizes fortifying democratic institutions, rule of law reform, and economic development, fostering regional integration and energy security. The United States actively supports Macedonia’s aspirations for full integration into Euro-Atlantic institutions, aiming to foster inclusive democracy, combat corruption and discrimination, fortify rule of law, diversify the economy, promote media freedom, and strengthen democratic institutions in a multi-ethnic society.

Moreover, highlighting Macedonia’s trade relations, the fact sheet mentions that the country has been a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) since 2003, recently joined the WTO’s Agreement on Government Procurement in September 2023, and has negotiated free trade agreements with neighboring nations. Trade between Macedonia and the United States in 2022 amounted to $270 million, with U.S. electrical machinery and equipment being particularly sought-after imports in Macedonia. Principal exports to the United States from Macedonia include tobacco, apparel, iron, and steel.

The United States’ assistance to Macedonia focuses on reinforcing democratic and economic reforms vital for progress toward EU accession, encompassing rule of law, good governance, economic reform, energy and cyber resilience, and regional engagement.

Since 1993, the United States has invested over $1.3 billion in assistance to Macedonia, strengthening collaboration across international organizations such as the United Nations, OSCE, Adriatic Charter, IMF, World Bank, WTO, and NATO. Macedonia’s significant roles as Chair-in-Office of the OSCE and 2023 chair of the A5, striving for Euro-Atlantic integration, showcase the country’s global leadership. Notably, Macedonia is an official candidate country for the European Union, with ongoing support from the United States in governance, rule of law, and anti-corruption reforms to reinforce its European perspective. The Prespa Agreement of 2019 resolved the Greece- Macedonia dispute, clearing the path for Macedonia’s NATO and EU accession, with the NATO Accession Protocol ratified in 2020.