WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Europe, on Wednesday released the following statement after the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) signed its accession protocol with Macedonia on Wednesday in London. This is the first step to the Republic of North Macedonia becoming a member of NATO after the historic agreement between Prime Minister Zaev and Prime Minister Tsipras was reached in June that settled a decades-old name dispute. The agreement was ratified last month, renaming Macedonia to North Macedonia and paving the way for the country to join NATO and the European Union (EU).

“This is an historic day for NATO and the people of Macedonia. Strengthening our transatlantic alliance is important at a time when Russia is increasing its aggression in Eastern Europe. As a NATO partner and prospective member, Macedonia has demonstrated exceptional commitment to the alliance, participating in multiple missions and becoming the 4th highest troop contributor to the ISAF mission in Afghanistan. I’m looking forward to the Senate’s ratification of North Macedonia’s NATO membership and our country continuing to be a partner in the region,” said Murphy.

Murphy, in his capacity as ranking member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Europe and Regional Security Cooperation in the last Congress, has been very supportive of Macedonia joining NATO. Last year, Murphy traveled to Macedonia and held meetings in support of NATO, and introduced a bipartisan resolution with U.S. Senator Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) supporting the agreement between Macedonia and Greece.

 

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