NATO Deputy Secretary General Radmila Šekerinska is confident that the United States will continue to support the Alliance, but she anticipates that all member nations, including Montenegro, need to enhance their contributions.

In a conversation with “Vijesti” during the NATO Youth Summit in Budva, hosted by the Atlantic Alliance, she stated that “as threats increase, our responses must also be strengthened.”

When queried about the significant shift in American policy towards Europe, prompted by President Donald Trump, and its potential impact on developments in Europe, particularly in the Balkans and Montenegro, she noted that a series of meetings and consultations with US officials have occurred.

“There was a decisive message from Washington; during Secretary-General Mark Rutte‘s engagements with President Trump, and in our ministerial discussions with the Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense. The message was unambiguous and potent: the US remains dedicated to the Alliance and the security of all its members,” remarked Šekerinska, who previously served as Deputy Prime Minister of North Macedonia before her appointment to NATO Deputy Secretary General last November.

She emphasized that the US commitment comes with an expectation for European allies and Canada to step up their contributions.

“The complexity and danger of threats to Euro-Atlantic security have escalated. We must respond accordingly. Our forthcoming summit in The Hague aims to transform the Alliance into an even stronger, more equitable, and proactive organization,” she added.

Šekerinska pointed out that this requires all allies to increase their defense spending to meet new, more ambitious capability goals—quite possibly the most demanding in NATO’s history.

“We have already observed that many allies not only meet the two percent GDP benchmark for defense but significantly surpass it. They have also greatly enhanced their support for Ukraine. In Europe, we find that out of eight different commands and forward-deployed forces, seven are managed by European Allies. This illustrates the ongoing maturation of the Alliance in sharing defense responsibilities,” she noted.

She further conveyed that while the Alliance must be more combative, its fundamental philosophy as a defensive organization remains unchanged, highlighting the need to display the capability to defend and deter.

“Showing a firm resolve to protect every ally is crucial in preventing war. This is the message we receive from the US and one we plan to convey from The Hague,” she articulated.

The NATO summit is scheduled to take place from June 24 to 26 in The Hague.

US Troops’ Presence in Kosovo

Sekerinska believes that a withdrawal of US troops from Kosovo is unlikely.

“No, we maintain that all allies must contribute more. This is evident; for instance, KFOR is currently under the leadership of a European ally, which is vital for all members, especially those closer to this region,” she explained.

She attributed the recent increase in NATO members’ defense spending to two factors: the ongoing war in Ukraine and the pressing demands from Washington for a more equitable distribution of defense burdens between Europe, Canada, and the US.

“This trajectory leads us towards a more robust Alliance, which remains a cornerstone of collective defense. Furthermore, our collaboration with the EU in this context will persist,” she stated, notably refraining from addressing inquiries about the prospect of a European Union (EU) army, which has long been discussed.

President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, unveiled a five-point initiative in March aimed at rearming Europe, which could mobilize nearly €800 billion for a secure and resilient Europe. These plans to enhance Europe’s defense capabilities followed a tense meeting between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Washington, where Trump urged other NATO members to raise their defense spending targets to five percent of GDP from the current two percent.

Addressing the military agreement signed by Croatia, Albania, and Kosovo in mid-March, Šekerinska remarked that it was not unusual.

“Our alliance consists of 32 countries that retain their sovereign right to forge agreements with other nations. As someone from a country that recently joined the Alliance in 2020, I recall having various defense partnerships with NATO members even before that. Thus, this is unremarkable. We trust our regional allies to contribute further to regional security. However, this does not fall within NATO’s framework,” she clarified.

This is how war is avoided – by demonstrating our determination to defend every ally. That is the message we are receiving from the US and the message we aim to convey from The Hague.

Croatia, Albania, and Kosovo formalized an agreement or declaration in Tirana on March 18, which, according to the Croatian Ministry of Defense, underscores the need for “a collective response to security challenges, hybrid threats, and other risks that could undermine regional stability.”

Šekerinska expressed confidence in these reliable allies, emphasizing that enhancing stability in the Western Balkans is a shared goal among all parties, including NATO.

“This is why we have three members from the region, alongside partners like Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and Serbia. There is no basis for a different narrative,” she concluded.

Controversy Over Attendance at Military Parade

When asked about the potential controversy of Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico attending the Victory Parade in Moscow on May 9, she stated that there was no need for premature reactions.

“As an Alliance, we have clearly articulated that Russia poses a threat. The war in Ukraine has cemented this as a danger to both the security and stability of allies and the Alliance itself. This has been NATO’s stance for some time,” Šekerinska asserted.

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kalas cautioned European leaders against participating in military celebrations in Moscow and advised them to demonstrate solidarity with Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić has also announced plans to attend the military parade in Moscow.

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