While many European capitals view US President Donald Trump's approach to NATO with unease, North Macedonia's Foreign Minister Timcho Mucunski offers a strikingly different perspective. In an interview with Euronews, he argued that the alliance has never been more robust than under the current US administration.
"My view is that, thanks to President Trump, [Secretary of State Marco] Rubio, and the entire foreign policy apparatus of the United States, NATO is stronger than it has ever been," Mucunski said. He pointed to last year's summit in The Hague, where members committed to raising defence spending to 5% of GDP by 2035, as evidence of this strength.
Mucunski described the spending target as "a very ambitious agenda, but also a very necessary agenda, considering not only the threat that we have from the Russian aggression against Ukraine, which is still ongoing, but threats in the Indo-Pacific, threats in the Middle East." He credited Trump with giving NATO "a wake-up call."
Contrasting Views Across Europe
The minister's comments stand in sharp contrast to the prevailing sentiment in many European Union member states. Since returning to office, Trump has called NATO a "paper tiger," criticised European defence spending, and even suggested he would "encourage" Russia to attack allies who do not meet their financial commitments. He has also threatened to suspend Spain and withdraw US troops from Germany—a move that has sparked discussions about relocating forces to Poland.
Despite these tensions, Mucunski remains bullish. "There will be disagreements between member states as there have been in the past. But if you look at the fundamentals, following the The Hague summit, through US leadership, we are at a point where the Alliance is stronger than it's ever been," he said. NATO members are set to meet again in Ankara this July to assess progress.
For North Macedonia, which joined NATO in 2020, membership has been transformative. "It has given North Macedonia the much-needed stability in a region that is extremely volatile," Mucunski said, adding that NATO is "without a doubt the strongest collective security community that civilisation has known and will probably [ever] know."
EU Accession Stalled by Bulgarian Veto
Beyond NATO, North Macedonia's other major strategic goal—European Union membership—remains elusive. The country applied in 2004 and was among the first Western Balkan states to do so, but progress has been glacial. Mucunski identified Bulgaria as the primary obstacle, with Sofia demanding constitutional recognition of a Bulgarian minority before accession talks can advance.
"I think, and I hope, that Bulgaria will recognise the possibilities that exist, that it will open dialogue with us," Mucunski said. The stalemate revolves around identity and language issues, which have proven deeply contentious.
When asked whether the prolonged delay could push Skopje toward Russia or China, Mucunski acknowledged the risk. "Hybrid threats thrive where frustration grows and where trust erodes," he said, noting that the region faces "a severe amount of malign influence" from both Moscow and Beijing. However, he insisted that North Macedonia remains firmly westward-looking. "We are a country that prides itself on being pro-European, not just in rhetoric, but in the values that we implement within our society."
A January 2026 poll by the Institute for Democracy Societas Civilis found that roughly 70% of North Macedonian citizens would vote in favour of EU membership, underscoring the public's enduring European aspirations even as the political process stalls.
Mucunski's remarks come at a time when European foreign ministers are grappling with multiple crises, including sanctions on Russia and other geopolitical challenges. The contrast between his optimistic view of NATO and the broader European unease highlights the complex dynamics within the alliance as it navigates an era of renewed great-power competition.
