Washington, 7 April 2026 (MIA) - Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Timcho Mucunski met Tuesday in Washington with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, Christopher Landau, reaffirming the joint commitment for a strong and long-standing partnership.

"We reaffirmed the joint commitment for a strong and long-standing partnership based on security, freedom and democratic prosperity. The second session of the Strategic Dialogue represents an important step forward in the enhancement of bilateral ties," FM Mucunski wrote in a Facebook post.

Mucunski and Landau agreed that making the Strategic Dialogue operational will be a priority in the coming period, while identifying specific and enlarged forms of cooperation in areas of mutual interest and beneficial for the countries' citizens, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade said in a press release.

Interlocutors also discussed the cooperation within NATO, bilateral economic collaboration, energy security, need for diversification of energy sources and strengthening of regional connectivity.

They also exchanged opinions on the state of play in the Western Balkans and the process of European integration, with Mucunski highlighting the importance of the continued U.S. presence and engagement as a guarantee for regional stability.

FM Mucunski is heading the Government delegation for the second session of the Strategic Dialogue, with North Macedonia being the first country in Europe to hold the dialogue in the term of the current U.S. administration, thus reaffirming the long-standing alliance and strategic partnership between the two countries.

This new session ushers a new impulse for further enhancement of the bilateral partnership, by defining a clear roadmap for cooperation in the coming period. Guided by the principles of mutual benefit, predictability and long-term vision, along with the joint commitment to the broader regional prosperity, discussions focused on topics in the fields of defense and security, energy, economy, trade and investments, culture, as well as regional and global developments, reads the press release.

Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade