Skopje, 18 August 2025 (MIA) – President Gordana Siljanovska – Davkova in an address at an Army Day ceremony in the Shtip barracks, referring to investments in the Army and raising defense spending as part of NATO, said that a hybrid model of a NATO clinical center could be built in Shtip, which might contribute to self-reliance and development.

“The importance of self-reliance in defense has never been greater. It requires enhanced capability to deter attacks and defense, adapting the national capacities for crisis management and stimulating operational security to be compatible with NATO’s. The Hague NATO Summit defined the need to gradually increase defense spending. In my opinion, means shouldn’t be only invested in equipping the armed forces but also in state structures and in the economy of the infrastructure,” said Siljanovska – Davkova. 

Armament should be financed exclusively, noted the President, we should also finance the entire system we’ve been building and investments are needed not only in defense, but also in making the Macedonian institutions self-reliant prompting all competent and interested institutions to start consider long-term projects on self-reliance and development in both peace and amid potential threat and conflict. 

“For example, wouldn’t it be possible to have a NATO clinical center according to the Alliance’s top standards, which in peaceful conditions would be at the disposal of the Macedonian citizens and would serve as a medical center for NATO amid a potential conflict. Why shouldn’t there be a hybrid model of a clinical center here, in Shtip, in a city with a top strategic location, good infrastructural network, a state university, which also includes the medical school, as well as a hospital and a dorm,” said Siljanovska – Davkova.

According to her, it would contribute to reviving “the desolate and displaced eastern Macedonia.”

“Also, why shouldn’t we initiate the construction of a NATO training center at Krivolak, one of the best army training grounds in Europe. Many servicemen of our army have enough knowledge and experience as trainers to share their knowledge with our NATO allies,” said the President in her Army Day address.

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