OREANDA-NEWS. North Macedonia officially became a member of North Atlantic Treaty Organization. This is announced on the website of the alliance.

The protocol on the country’s accession had been already signed by the members of the organization on February 6 last year. In December the United States ratified it. In February 2020, the parliament of North Macedonia approved the decision, as it required by the procedure for joining the military bloc. The flag-raising ceremony will take place on April 30 at NATO headquarters.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg noted that North Macedonia is a longtime participant in security missions led by the alliance, including operations in Kosovo and Afghanistan.

The entry of North Macedonia into the NATO was lengthy, in particular due to opposing of Greece.