Skopje, 20 January 2025 (MIA) – Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski attending today’s inauguration of incoming US President Donald Trump, being one of the few politicians from the region, is a success of our diplomacy and an opportunity for him to present our country’s positions regarding the delayed effect of constitutional changes, aimed at unblocking the EU accession path, ambassadors Gjorgji Filipov and Vasko Naumovski say.

“Attending the inauguration is an excellent chance provided that talks are scheduled or that a moment occurs for the premier and the president to talk. The invitation itself is a success of our diplomacy or the American diplomacy. Our prime minister will have the chance to the leader of the country that is our strategic partner to convey directly the Macedonian position regarding delaying the obligation pledged before the EU and to present the proposal of how it may be realized in a way that will be beneficial for the two neighbouring countries that are also NATO allies,” Filipov says in a statement to MIA.

According to Naumovski, Mickoski’s attending the inauguration is the result of the government’s good predictions and the contacts established with the Trump team during the election campaign. The announced meetings and talks with top officials in the new administration in Washington is a chance to present the country’s investment portfolio to improve economic cooperation and to attract investments, which he considers a priority in the bilateral relations with the United States alongside securing support for the country’s EU integration process.

“The relations between our government and the President Trump team were established ahead of the US presidential elections, which in my opinion was the result of a good projection by our government. It puts our government in a good position being one of the few governments in Europe that now have good communication. I also believe due to this, our prime minister was invited to attend events related to the inauguration. The meetings that will take place, formal and informal, will aim at strengthening the potential of economic relations, attracting American investments and securing support for the EU enlargement process having in mind that uniting Europe and closing all issues that hinder the process are one of the goals of the American foreign policy for decades. It would be good to have the support of the new Trump administration on all open issues, not only with neighbouring Bulgaria but also all other possibilities that might hinder the enlargement process,” states Naumovski.

As to whether the new administration could be more focused on the country and the region in general, something our government hopes for, and possible increasing pressure on Sofia to unblock the country’s EU integration process, the two diplomats say the activities of the American diplomacy will be in line with the current interests of Washington in the region and the United States’ attention toward the Western Balkans is an expected and wanted outcome. According to Filipov, there could be pressure that would be exerted both on Skopje and Sofia as regard the bilateral dispute.

“We could expect them to be watchful especially in terms of finding a solution to the issues between Belgrade and Pristina, since the latter has a US military base, thus a NATO base. It is expected a road infrastructure connecting the Black Sea and the Adriatic or Ionian Sea to be constructed, meaning increased cooperation of the countries the infrastructure will be built in (Bulgaria – Macedonia – Albania). Since it is in both European and American interest, it is possible for the EU and the United States to heighten their friendly efforts to push the two countries (Bulgaria and Macedonia) toward finding a mutual solution. In any case, I believe the pressure, as you call it, won’t be directed only toward Sofia, it will be exerted also on Skopje,” notes Ambassador Filipov.

If one thing is for sure, says Ambassador Naumovski, then it is that the Trump administration will be committed to solving all crises and closing issues as part of the long-term goal of the American foreign policy. Establishing good communication with the Trump administration, according to him, benefits the attempts made to secure support.

“Relations with other countries in the world and closing crises in Ukraine and the Middle East will be a priority, of course. Having in mind the experience from the first Trump term, he was engaged in a mediation between Belgrade and Pristina for example, meaning he has experience with solving open issues in the Balkans. The government having direct access to the White House, we will have the chance to put these issues higher on the agenda of the White House and the Department of State. It also means we will have a chance to present our position to the new administration thus trying to secure support both as a country and as being part of the region and to draw the attention of the new Trump administration on the Western Balkan region in order to close all open issues here and the region to finally join the EU,” says Naumovski.

Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski is in Washington for the inauguration of the United States President-elect Donald Trump.

There, he is accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Timcho Mucunski, First Deputy PM and Minister of Environment and Physical Planning, Izet Mexhiti, and Deputy Minister of European Affairs, Viktorija Trajkov.

The delegation will also attend an event organized by Trump Media and Rumble after the inauguration.

During the trip, Mickoski is to hold several bilateral and other meetings with officials from the incoming US administration. Mickoski will also meet with businesspeople of Macedonian origin, to discuss economic cooperation and possible investments at home.

This will be the second inauguration of Donald Trump, who will be the 47th President of the United States. The inauguration is expected to be attended by numerous presidents and prime ministers, as well as heads of international organizations.

MIA file photo