Challenges of the Defense System of the Republic of North Macedonia before and after NATO membership

Magistrsko delo z naslovom »Izzivi obrambnega sistema Republike Severne Makedonije pred in po vstopu v zvezo NATO« predstavlja analizo iz obdobja osamosvojitve države, in vzpostavitev državnega obrambnega sistema do obdobja polnopravnega članstva v zvezi Nato. V skladu z akcijskim načrtom za članstvo v Natu mora vsaka država kandidatka izpolnjevati Natova merila za članstvo v zavezništvu. Za uresničitev strateške zaveze je Republika Severna Makedonija izvedla številne dejavnosti od reforme Ministrstva za obrambo do reforme in transformacije znotraj Oboroženih sil Republike Severne Makedonije, transformacije, velike spremembe, ki so sicer privedle do zbliževanja z Natom. Država se je soočala s političnimi, tako notranjimi kakor tudi zunanjimi izzivi ter obstrukcijami. Ekonomski izziv je bil državni proračun ki se je potem odražal na vojaškem področju. Vojaški izzivi so bili nezadostno število vojaškega kadra, oprema vojske z ustrezno oborožitvijo ter vojaška infrastruktura. Republika Severna Makedonija je 27. marca 2020 postala polnopravna članica zavezništva po deponiranju instrumenta za pristop k Severnoatlantski pogodbi v Državnem oddelku pri ameriškem zunanjem ministrstvu v Washingtonu. V magistrskem delu predstavljam izzive, s katerimi se je Republika Severna Makedonija soočala pred članstvom v zvezi Nato, ter izzive, s katerimi se sooča po vstopu v zvezo Nato.The master\u27s thesis titled "Challenges of the Defense System of the Republic of North Macedonia before and after NATO membership" presents an analysis from the period of the country\u27s independence and the establishment of the national defense system, to the period of full NATO membership. To implement the strategic commitment, the Republic of North Macedonia has carried out numerous activities such as the reform of the Ministry of Defense, the reform and transformation within the Armed Forces of the Republic of North Macedonia, and other rapid transformations and major changes that have led to the rapprochement with NATO. The country has faced both internal and external political challenges and obstructions. One is the economic challenge related to the state budget, which is then directly reflected on the military field. Further challenges present in the form of insufficient military personnel, army equipment with adequate armaments and having the appropriate military infrastructure. The Republic of North Macedonia became a full member of the Alliance on the 27th of March, 2020 following the deposit of the Instrument for Accession to the North Atlantic Treaty in the State Department in Washington. Through my master\u27s degree, I present the challenges that the Republic of North Macedonia has faced before joining NATO, and the challenges that it is facing after becaming a full member of the Alliance