Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement after the Senate voted to approve the accession of North Macedonia to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO):
“Today's long-awaited, nearly unanimous vote to approve the accession of North Macedonia into NATO is a strong symbol of the U.S. Senate’s support for the strongest and most successful political-military alliance in the history of the world. Bringing a 30th member into NATO during the 70th year of the alliance’s existence is a strong signal to allies and enemies alike that NATO continues to be critical to U.S. and transatlantic security, and is adapting to modern day challenges. I hope that our European partners who have not yet acted in their own legislatures will do so without further delay. I look forward to welcoming North Macedonia as a full member of NATO shortly.”
The Senate gave its consent to ratify the Protocol to the North Atlantic Treaty of 1949 on the Accession of the Republic of North Macedonia with a vote of 91-2.
Video of Chairman Risch’s remarks in advance of the vote can be viewed here.
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