Security Challenges of the Republic of North Macedonia After the NATO Accession

Abstract

The main goal of this paper is to analyze the kinds of security challenges and threats the Republic of North Macedonia is facing after its accession in NATO. This study would be a comparative analysis of two periods, respectively two years before its official accession and the period from its NATO accession until today. The paper is a practical attempt to show and explain to the academic and ordinary society whether North Macedonia has closed certain groups of security threats and security challenges traditional for the Western Balkan region after its membership in NATO, but also the new security challenges and threats which this country is facing since its full membership in NATO. From theoretical point of view, we will try to explain if small states, on the example of North Macedonia, are able to create a national security strategy or its security strategy depends on the so-called great powers and their security goals, similar to the case with foreign policy strategies, according to the findings of the representatives of the theory of realism. Key questions that should be answered in this paper are the following: Has North Macedonia improved its security mosaic since its NATO accession? What are the new security challenges and threats after its membership? Does the creation of the security strategy of North Macedonia depend on its NATO allies?