Brussels, 13 February 2025 (MIA) – Our country remains committed to spending two percent of the GDP on defense, which has positioned the country among the two thirds of allied countries that have been meeting the NATO-set target, Defense Minister Vlado Misajlovski said addressing Thursday’s North Atlantic Council meeting in Brussels.

Misajlovski expressed full support for reinforcing NATO’s deterrence and defence concept by meeting the defined goals of capability and continued investing in modernization and equipment. 

To this end, he said, over 32 percent of the Macedonian defense budget for 2025 (over EUR 106 millio) has been singled out. According to him, NATO should continue to work alongside the European Union on the development of defense capacities.

Also, the Minister touched on the Macedonian contribution to the Alliance’s collective defense.

Furthermore, Misajlovski congratulated Peter Hegseth on being appointed defense secretary of the United States. 

Later in the day, Minister Misajlovski will attend an informal meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council in which talks are expected to focus on what the Alliance could do more to support Kiev in tackling the Russian invasion. 

Photo: MoD