Brussels, 18 October 2024 (MIA) - One of the main issues discussed at the meeting of NATO Defence Ministers on Thursday and Friday in Brussels, was defense spending, Minister of Defence Vlado Misajlovski told MIA after the ministerial.

"The percentage we will allocate from our budget is a really important question for a small country like Macedonia. You know our (defence) budget needs to keep growing. Although we are above 2% of GDP, we are looking at how to increase the budget," said Misajlovski. 

As part of the efforts to deal with the new challenges, NATO members have committed to investing at least 2% of GDP annually on defence. According to NATO data, this year the country allocated USD 263 million for defence needs, which represents 2.22% of GDP, thus exceeding the set target, together with 23 other members of the Alliance.

According to Misajlovski, the Government's priority in the coming period will be more funds for modernization, as well as for everything set as a target and obligation by NATO.

"A lot of work is ahead of us, because we constantly need to upgrade ourselves, we constantly need to follow all the examples of new modernization and new initiatives," Misajlovski added. 

He noted that at the ministerial he had the opportunity to talk with his counterparts on various topics, as well as on deepening cooperation with all partners.

"We will show that we, as a member country, are also among the top contributors of aid, as well as in terms of what we will develop for the modernization of the country," the Minister of Defence pointed out.   

He noted that support for Ukraine remains the main topic of such meetings, in terms of what is happening there and the challenges the country is facing. According to Misajlovski, at yesterday's NATO–Ukraine Council working dinner the ministers had the opportunity to be briefed on the situation on the ground by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, as well as to discuss the joint support of the Alliance and its members for the country.

Misajlovski pointed out that when it comes to aid to Ukraine, we are the fourth country according to the amount of donations per capita, but now it is important what will be allocated in the coming period.

"I have reiterated that we are preparing a new aid package. We will keep everything that is important and that the Macedonian Army needs, but on the other hand, we will try to help as much as we can. We also heard various requests from the Ukrainian side for everything they need in the coming period," said Misajlovski. 

He said that in conditions when the situation in Ukraine is critical, the country needs new military aid and equipment, and we, as a NATO member country and as a friend, will help as much as we can.

"There were also different sessions in which I participated, and we can express our views on various issues. One of the key topics for all partners was the Indo-Pacific, but on the other hand, all our capabilities as well and what we have to do as a NATO member," Misajlovski added. 

Photo: MIA