sd-head-mak

Strategic Document – North Macedonia – 2024

NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY: 2017
NATIONAL DEFENCE STRATEGY: 2002

NO CHANGES IN 2023

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National interests and goals (as defined in the Strategies):
Protection of independence and territorial integrity of the Republic of Northern Macedonia // Strengthening regional security and stability // Membership in collective security systems // Effective management of natural disasters, technical and technological disasters, epidemics and climate change

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Main threats:
Insufficient economic growth // Corruption // Organised crime // Insufficient capacity and politicisation of democratic institutions // Foreign intelligence services delaying or hindering efforts to integrate into the Euro-Atlantic community // Radicalism and extremism // Terrorism // Illegal migration // Cyber threats

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Main principles of national security policy:
Collective defence // Professionalism and adequate and equitable representation of communities // Application of the principle of gender equality in all the phases of defence policy and planning

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Regional cooperation:
Regional cooperation and good neighbourly relations have a positive impact on security in the region. Countries in the region are aware that co-operation and good neighbourly relations are a precondition for building mutual trust, integration into European and Euro-Atlantic structures and improving regional security, stability and economic growth. The Republic of Northern Macedonia sees full membership of all countries of the region in NATO or the EU as the best way to further improve and consolidate the security situation in the region of Southeast Europe and beyond.

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Regional threats:
The region remains burdened by its history and continues to face problems that can lead to instability. Differences of national, ethno-religious and cultural character and conflicting goals and interests can be a challenge to the security and safety of the region.

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Relations with NATO and the EU:
Strategic commitment to European and Euro-Atlantic integration and membership in collective defence and security systems remain a top priority of our defence policy, focused on joining NATO and the EU. After full membership in NATO and the EU, we will fully participate in collective defence and the Common Foreign and Security Policy. The military will maintain military capabilities which are compatible and interoperable with the NATO Code of Capabilities. It will also improve the existing capabilities and provide conditions for integration and adequate contribution of the national defence system to the collective defence of the Alliance.

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International military cooperation:
North Macedonia will develop strength and capabilities to participate in international peacekeeping and security operations and missions, in line with national security interests and international obligations. We will support regional and international peace, security and stability through active participation in NATO and EU-led operations and missions, as well as in international peacekeeping, humanitarian and observation operations led by the UN, and through participation in various forms of military cooperation at bilateral, regional and multilateral levels.

2024 – Balkan Defence Monitor
Strategic Documents – North Macedonia

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w-head-mak

Women in Defence System – North Macedonia – 2024

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National Action Plan 1325:

North Macedonia is in the fourth year of implementing its second Action Plan 1325 on Women, Peace and Security for the period 2020-2025.1 In early 2023, the Ministry of Defence, with the help of the Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance (DCAF), took the first steps to prepare a gender self-assessment.2

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Participation of women in the MoDs and the Armed Forces:

According to Minister Slavjanka Petrovska, the results of the Ministry’s work in promoting gender equality are visible, because in the last competition for the admission of cadets at the Military Academy, 14 of the 35 accepted cadets were women.3 The long-term effects of gender policies are yet to be seen, but as of 2023, women make up 10 percent of the active personnel in the Army, of which 20% are officers, 13% non-commissioned officers and 6% enlisted personnel. Compared to the official statistics from 2022,4 there is a decline in female civilians as less than one third of women (29%) work as civilian personnel in the army.

There is a veiled criticism in the Albanian media that the North Macedonian Army does not fully reflect the diversity in the society. According to the Euronews Albania reports, “Albanian women in the Army of North Macedonia are located mainly in the unit of professional soldiers, where out of 5.8% of women in total, only 1.6% are Albanian”.5

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Representation of women in command and leadership positions:

North Macedonia is currently the only country in the region that has appointed a woman the Minister of Defence. Still, the share of women in command and management positions in the Ministry of Defence and the Army is 19%. According to the Army officials, the trend of enhancing the representation of women in the Army structure continues, especially in the officer ranks, since there are 3 colonels and 33 lieutenant-colonels in the Army.6 In addition, the number of female majors, captains and lieutenants is considered satis-factory by the Army officials.

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Participation of women in peacekeeping operations:

The participation of women in military operations is 4% of female personnel assigned to UN, EU and NATO-led missions, which is a slight decrease compared to the last year research. 7

      1. https://www.globalwps.org/data/MKD/files/2020-2025.pdf 
      2. Ministry of Defence, Gender self-assessment in the Ministry of Defence and the Army of the Republic of North Macedonia, 17 February 2023, https://mod.gov.mk/gender-self-assessment-in-the-ministry-of-defense-and-the-army-of-the-republic-of-north-macedonia/
      3. Republic of North Macedonia, Ministry of Defence, „Petrovska at the conference on gender equality and the OSCE perspective: women in security are not just numbers, they are value and quality,“ 6 September 2023, https://mod.gov.mk/petrovska-nakonferencija-rodova-ednakvost-osce-06-09-2023/
      4. Army of the Republic of North Macedonia, „Brave Macedonian women for whom the Army is a guarantee of peace and security of the state,“ 8 March 2023, https://mil.mk/military-stories/hrabri-makedonki-armijata-za-niv-e-garantiranje-na-mirot-i-sigurnosta-na-drzhavata/?lang=en
      5. Euronews Albania, “The only Albanian female soldier in N. Macedonia, part of the army for more than 15 years,” 9 March 2023, https://euronews.al/en/the-only-albanian-female-soldier-in-n-macedonia-part-of-the-army-for-more-than-15-years/
      6. Army of the Republic of North Macedonia, „Brave Macedonian women for whom the Army is a guarantee of peace and security of the state,“ 8 March 2023, https://mil.mk/military-stories/hrabri-makedonki-armijata-za-niv-e-garantiranje-na-mirot-i-sigurnosta-na-drzhavata/?lang=en
      7. Balkan Defence Monitor, Women in Defence System, North Macedonia, 2023, https://balkandefencemonitor.com/women-in-defence-system-north-macedonia-2023/

2024 – Balkan Defence Monitor
Women In Defence System – North Macedonia

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International Military Cooperation – North Macedonia – 2024

MILITARY EXERCISES

In 2023, North Macedonia participated in 31 international military exercises. Among these exercises, 13 were bilateral and 18 were multilateral. Regarding bilateral military exercises, five were conducted with the US, four with Turkey, two with Greece and one with the UK and France, respectively. 

NATO and its Partnership for Peace (PfP) programme absolutely dominate when it comes to multilateral international military exercises in which North Macedonia participated. Nine of these exercises were done under the auspices of NATO, among which there were two cyber security exercises, including “Cyber Unity 23” and “Cyber Coalition 23”. Five exercises were led by the US to prepare the US army and the ally armies to operate under NATO standards. Three exercises were regional in scope, like the “Laufer 23” implemented within the Adriatic Charter (A-5), “Strong Balkan 23 (B-9)”; a regional exercise intended to boost interoperability with NATO, and exercise “Maple Arch 23” held under the auspice South-Eastern Europe Brigade (SEEBRIG) to bring the participating countries closer to NATO standards. The North Macedonian Army also participated in “Triglav Star 23” with Slovenia, UK, and Colorado Army National Guard participation.

DONATIONS

The North Macedonian MoD could not provide an absolute value of all the donations in 2023, but the approximate value was provided. It was impossible to extrapolate the exact timeframe of these donations based on the MoD’s response and the open sources. However, based on the provided data, the US military donations are valued at approximately USD 3.718.792, followed by the UK, whose donations were approximately GBP 100.000. It was not possible to identify the exact content of the UK donations. Still, the US donations mostly involved the donation of spare parts, including for armoured vehicles and measurement instruments. Lithuania also donated spare parts to North Macedonia, although it was not possible to identify the monetary value. However, the largest military donation to North Macedonia was from the EU, as the European Peace Facility (EPF) provided assistance worth EUR 9 million intended for the equipment of the light infantry battalion group to enhance the ability to participate in EU military missions under the auspices of EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy.

TOP FOREIGN DONORS 2023

EU – the European Peace Facility (EPF)
USD 9 million

2024 – Balkan Defence Monitor
International Military Cooperation – North Macedonia

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Defence expenditure – North Macedonia – 2024

Defence budget of North Macedonia has experienced a substantial increase since the country joined NATO in 2020. The increase is also a consequence of a long-term plan of modernisation of the Army. Despite the budget being underspent in the last two years, the 2024 budget comes with a 38% increase compared to the previous year. Defence expenditure as a share of GDP also increased from 1% in 2019 to over 2% planned in 2024.

2023

Share of GDP 1,67%
Share of total government
expenditure 4,52%

Budget laws for the upcoming year are regularly adopted by the Parliament of North Macedonia in late December. Balance sheets are usually adopted regularly as well. The Ministry of Defence publishes quartal budget realisation reports on its website.

Until 2021, the largest percentage of the budget was spent on personnel. Following modernisation projects and equipment procurement, such as Stryker and Oshkosh armed vehicles, the share of arms and equipment budget started to slowly increase. By the 2023 budget, North Macedonia planned to spend 39% on this category, however it actually spent 11% less, or 28% of defence expenditure. In 2024 arms and equipment spending is expected to surpass personnel expenditure.

The large portion of other expenses accounts for goods and services excluding capital expenditure, and transfers to pension fund and local municipalities. The defence budget of North Macedonia is divided into programmes and its transparency and disaggregation could be improved.

2024 – Balkan Defence Monitor 
Defence Expenditures – North Macedonia

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2023-IMC-Macedonia

International Military Cooperation – North Macedonia – 2023

MILITARY EXERCISES

In 2022, North Macedonia participated in 20 international military exercises. Five of these were bilateral – four were conducted with the US and one with Greece. The rest were multilateral exercises conducted through NATO and its Partnership for Peace (PfP) programme. Beyond these international exercises, North Macedonia also held one national exercise, “Flash 22”, intended to demonstrate that the army is combat-ready according to NATO standards, or more precisely, according to the Standards for Evaluation of Ground Commands and units of the NATO Joint Operations Command – CREVAL (Combat Readiness Evaluation).

DONATIONS

Based on data provided by the North Macedonian MoD, the UK’s donation to North Macedonia amounted to GBP 377,738 (USD 454,154; EUR 438,119) and involved two transactions. These transactions most likely concerned the delivery of 14 mobile training units for operations in the urban environment. The United Kingdom also made another donation to North Macedonia, valued at EUR 100,000 when presented in Euros. There is no data on whether this relates to training units or other donations. Although North Macedonia is one of the NATO allies that are expected to receive military aid from the US in light of the war in Ukraine, no information related to military donations from the US in 2022 was found while doing research.

TOP FOREIGN DONORS 2022

UK
EUR 538,119

2023 – Balkan Defence Monitor
International Military Cooperation – North Macedonia

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2023-Woman-Makedonija

Women in Defence System – North Macedonia – 2023

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National Action Plan 1325:

North Macedonia is currently implementing its second Action Plan 1325 on women, peace and security for the period 2020-2025.¹

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Participation of women in the MoDs and the Armed Forces:

According to the Ministry of Defence, women currently (2022) make up 30.86% of the civilian staff and 10.66% of the armed forces. The share of women among officers, non-commissioned officers (NCOs) and soldiers increased moderately compared to the last year’s survey. North Macedonia has 18.16% of women with the ranks of officers, 11.87% of the NCOs and 5.78% of the soldiers. Although the percentage of women in operational jobs has increased, women generally still work in civilian positions in the defence system.

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Representation of women in command and leadership positions:

North Macedonia is one of the three countries in the region that have appointed women as defence ministers. The share of women among the total number of officers in the Armed Forces is 10.93%.

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Participation of women in peacekeeping operations:

According to the Ministry of Defence, 4.92% of women are currently deployed to peacekeeping operations. This is a significant drop compared to 2019, when North Macedonia deployed 8% of its uniformed women to peacekeeping operations.

      1.    Second National Action Plan of the Republic of North Macedonia for the Implementation of United Nations
        Security Council Resolution 1325 – Women, Peace and Security 2020 – 2025, July 2020, https://www.globalwps.org/data/MKD/files/2020-2025.pdf

2023 – Balkan Defence Monitor
Women In Defence System – North Macedonia

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2023-DE-Macedonia

Defence expenditure – North Macedonia – 2023

North Macedonian defence expenditure increased approximately 30% from 2017 to 2020. Further increases were planned after the country became a member of NATO in 2020. Before that, it was
spending roughly 1% on the military. Defence expenditure has taken up an increasing portion of the total government spending, from 2.7% in 2017 to 5.2% that was planned for 2023.

2022

Share of GDP 1.64%
Share of total government
expenditure 5.02%

The Assembly of the Republic of North Macedonia usually adopts budget laws in late December, while balance sheets are adopted regularly, with some occasional delays. The MoD regularly publishes semi-annual budget realisation reports.


North Macedonian defence budget changed in 2021, as the country signed the contract to buy Stryker light armoured vehicles. This purchase altered the budget structure in favour of arms and equipment.

Similar to other countries in the region, North Macedonia uses programme budgeting, which is not sufficiently disaggregated. Budgets and balance sheets show highly aggregated sums for different programmes, and sources of funding are presented for the entire MoD budget.

2023 – Balkan Defence Monitor
Defence Expenditures – North Macedonia

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2023-SD-Makedonija

Strategic Document – North Macedonia – 2023

NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY: 2003
NATIONAL DEFENCE STRATEGY: 2020

NO CHANGES IN 2022

icon01

National interests and goals (as defined in the Strategies):
Protection of independence and territorial integrity of the Republic of Northern Macedonia // Strengthening regional security and stability // Membership in collective security systems // Effective management of natural disasters, technical and technological disasters, epidemics and climate change

icon02

Main threats:
Insufficient economic growth // Corruption // Organised crime // Insufficient capacity and politicisation of democratic institutions // Foreign intelligence services delaying or hindering efforts to integrate into the Euro-Atlantic community // Radicalism and extremism // Terrorism // Illegal migration // Cyber threats

icon03

Main principles of national security policy:
Collective defence // Professionalism and adequateand equitable representation of communities // Application of the principle of gender equality in all the phases of defence policy and planning

icon04

Regional cooperation:
Regional cooperation and good neighbourly relations have a positive impact on security in the region. Countries in the region are aware that co-operation and good neighbourly relations are a precondition for building mutual trust, integration into European and Euro-Atlantic structures and improving regional security, stability and economic growth. The Republic of Northern Macedonia sees full membership of all countries of the region in NATO or the EU as the best way to further improve and consolidate the security situation in the region of Southeast Europe and beyond.

icon05

Regional threats:
The region remains burdened by its history and continues to face problems that can lead to instability. Differences of national, ethno-religious and cultural character and conflicting goals and interests can be a challenge to the security and safety of the region.

icon06
icon07

Relations with NATO and the EU:
Strategic commitment to European and Euro-Atlantic integration and membership in collective defence and security systems remain a top priority of our defence policy, focused on joining NATO and the EU. After full membership in NATO and the EU, we will fully participate in collective defence and the Common Foreign and Security Policy. The military will maintain military capabilities which are compatible and interoperable with the NATO Code of Capabilities. It will also improve the existing capabilities and provide conditions for integration and adequate contribution of the national defence system to the collective defence ofthe Alliance.

icon08

International military cooperation:
North Macedonia will develop strength and capabilities to participate in international peacekeeping and security operations and missions, in line with national security interests and international obligations. We will support regional and international peace, security and
stability through active participation in NATO and EU-led operations and missions, as well as in international peacekeeping, humanitarian and observation operations led by the UN, and through participation in various forms of military cooperation at bilateral, regional and multilateral levels.

2023 – Balkan Defence Monitor
Strategic Documents – North Macedonia

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NMacedonia-WDS-Baner

Women in Defence System – North Macedonia – 2022

women-icon01
National Action Plan 1325:

North Macedonia is currently in the phase of implementing its second action plan 1325 on women, peace and security for the period 2020-2025.¹ The adoption of the second action plan coincided with the country’s NATO membership and the 20th anniversary of the Resolution 1325. North Macedonia’s new plan is forward-looking and focused on leadership in government institutions and the civil sector, unlike the first action plan for the period 2013- 2015, which focused more on participation and contribution of women in international, civilian and military missions, including conflict prevention. In the previous period, key challenges for the implementation of NAP 1325 were related to the political context and the conservative forces in the government which obstructed the implementation of gender-related policies. On the structural level, the challenges were related to budgetary concerns and the weaknesses of the monitoring and reporting mechanisms, as well as to the relatively limited capacity of state institutions in terms of gender sensitivity, knowledge and resources.2 Lack of disaggregated data and gender-based analyses posed an additional challenge for evaluation and monitoring.

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Participation of women in the MoDs and the Armed Forces:

Equality between women and men is guaranteed by different defence-related laws, and the gender equality principle is mainstreamed in the latest Defence Strategy (2021).3 Moreover, there are no restrictions for women in the military. According to the Ministry of Defence, women currently (2022) make up 34% of its employees and 10% of the armed forces, which is a slight increase compared to 2019.4 When it comes to the share of women among officers, non-commissioned officers (NCOs) and soldiers, North Macedonia has a relatively high percentage of females in the ranks of officers and NCOs – 14% of the officers, 11% of the NCOs and 5% of the soldiers.5 Although the percentage of women in operational jobs has increased, women generally still work in civilian posts in the defence system.

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Representation of women in command and leadership positions:

North Macedonia is an example of good practice because some of the senior leadership positions are held by women. North Macedonia is one of the three countries in the region that have appointed women as defence ministers. UNDP SEESAC data show that in 2019, the share of women in leadership positions held by uniformed personnel in the Armed Forces was 16%, while 47% of women among non-uniformed personnel held managerial positions in the MoD.6

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Participation of women in peacekeeping operations:

According to the 2021 UNDP SEESAC report, North Macedonia deployed 8% of uniformed women to peacekeeping operations in 2019. Since the presented share of women in peacekeeping operations is based only on a one-year situation overview, it should be borne in mind that annual fluctuations can be significant.7

      1. SECOND NATIONAL ACTION PLAN of the Republic of North Macedonia for the Implementation of United Nations
        Security Council Resolution 1325 – Women, Peace and Security 2020 – 2025, https://www.globalwps.org/data/MKD/files/2020-2025.pdf
      2. Gorana Odanović (ed.), Women, Peace and Security in the Western Balkans, Belgrade Centre for Security Policy,
        2013, https://unescowomen.uom.gr/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/WOMEN-PEACE-AND-SECURITY_Independent-review-of-translation-of-UNSCR-1325.pdf
      3. Ministry of Defence, Defence Strategy of the Republic of North Macedonia, MoD, 2021, https://www.mod.gov.mk/
        storage/2021/06/Defence-Strategy-of-the-Republic-of-North-Macedonia.pdf
      4. United Nations in Serbia, The Position of Women in the Armed Forces in the Western Balkans, UNDP SEESAC, 23
        December 2021, https://serbia.un.org/en/166414-position-women-armed-forces-western-balkans
      5. Ibid, p. 24
      6. Ibid, p. 28
      7. Ibid, page 27.

2022 – Balkan Defence Monitor
Women In Defence System – North Macedonia

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NMacedonia-SD-Baner

Strategic Document – North Macedonia – 2022

NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY: 2003
NATIONAL DEFENCE STRATEGY: 2020

icon01

National interests and goals (as defined in the Strategies):
Protection of independence and territorial integrity of the Republic of Northern Macedonia // Strengthening regional security and stability // Membership in collective security systems // Effective management of natural disasters, technical and technological disasters, epidemics and climate change

icon02

Main threats:
Insufficient economic growth // Corruption // Organised crime // Insufficient capacity and politicisation of democratic institutions // Foreign intelligence services delaying or hindering efforts to integrate into the Euro-Atlantic community // Radicalism and extremism // Terrorism // Illegal migration // Cyber threats

icon03

Main principles of national security policy:
Collective defence // Professionalism and adequateand equitable representation of communities // Application of the principle of gender equality in all the phases of defence policy and planning

icon04

Regional cooperation:
Regional cooperation and good neighbourly relations have a positive impact on security in the region. Countries in the region are aware that co-operation and good neighbourly relations are a precondition for building mutual trust, integration into European and Euro-Atlantic structures and improving regional security, stability and economic growth. The Republic of Northern Macedonia sees full membership of all countries of the region in NATO or the EU as the best way to further improve and consolidate the security situation in the region of Southeast Europe and beyond.

icon05

Regional threats:
The region remains burdened by its history and continues to face problems that can lead to instability. Differences of national, ethno-religious and cultural character and conflicting goals and interests can be a challenge to the security and safety of the region.

icon06
icon07

Relations with NATO and the EU:
Strategic commitment to European and Euro-Atlantic integration and membership in collective defence and security systems remain a top priority of our defence policy, focused on joining NATO and the EU. After full membership in NATO and the EU, we will fully participate in collective defence and the Common Foreign and Security Policy. The military will maintain military capabilities which are compatible and interoperable with the NATO Code of Capabilities. It will also improve the existing capabilities and provide conditions for integration and adequate contribution of the national defence system to the collective defence ofthe Alliance.

icon08

International military cooperation:
North Macedonia will develop strength and capabilities to participate in international peacekeeping and security operations and missions, in line with national security interests and international obligations. We will support regional and international peace, security and
stability through active participation in NATO and EU-led operations and missions, as well as in international peacekeeping, humanitarian and observation operations led by the UN, and through participation in various forms of military cooperation at bilateral, regional and multilateral levels.

2022 – Balkan Defence Monitor
Strategic Documents – North Macedonia

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