The foreign relations of North Macedonia since its independence in 1991 have been characterized by the country's efforts to gain membership in international organizations such as NATO and the European Union and to gain international recognition under its previous constitutional name, overshadowed by a long-standing, dead-locked dispute with neighboring Greece. Greek objections to the country's name had led to it being admitted to the United Nations and several other international fora only under the provisional designation Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia until its official and erga omnes renaming to North Macedonia, a name under which it is now universally recognised.

Diplomatic relations

North Macedonia became a member state of the United Nations on April 8, 1993, eighteen months after its independence from the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. It was referred within the UN as "the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia", pending a resolution, to the long-running dispute about the country's name. Unusually, the country's flag was not raised at UN Headquarters when the state joined the UN.Article on Former Yugoslav states It was not until after the country's flag was changed that it was raised at the UN Headquarters. Other international bodies, such as the European Union, European Broadcasting Union, and the International Olympic Committee had adopted the same naming convention. NATO also used that name in official documents but added an explanation on which member countries recognise the constitutional name. A number of countries recognised the country by its former constitutional name – the Republic of Macedonia – rather than the UN reference, notably four of the five permanent UN Security Council members (the United Kingdom, the United States, China, and Russia). All UN member states currently recognise North Macedonia as a sovereign state.

List of countries List of countries which North Macedonia maintains diplomatic relations with: #CountryDate1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526272829303132333435363738394041—424344454647484950515253545556575859606162636465666768697071727374757677—78798081828384858687888990919293949596979899100101102103104105106107108109110111112113114115116117118119120121122123124125126127128129130131132133134135136137138139140141142143144145146147148149150151152153154155156157158159160161162—163164165166167168169170171172173174175176177178179180181

Bilateral relations Multilateral Organization Formal Relations BeganNotesSee Accession of North Macedonia to the European Union See North Macedonia–NATO relations North Macedonia joined NATO on 27 March 2020.

Africa Country Formal Relations BeganNotes 14 November 1994 North Macedonia has an embassy in Cairo.18 September 2023 South Africa is represented in North Macedonia by its embassy in Athens, Greece.

Americas Country Formal Relations BeganNotes24 September 1999Argentina is accredited to North Macedonia from its embassy in Sofia, Bulgaria. North Macedonia is accredited to Argentina from its embassy in Madrid, Spain.14 September 1998 Brazil is accredited to North Macedonia from its embassy in Sofia, Bulgaria. North Macedonia has an embassy in Brasília.4 July 1996See Canada–North Macedonia relations

Canada is accredited to North Macedonia from its embassy in Belgrade, Serbia. North Macedonia has an embassy in Ottawa. Canada has an honorary consulate in Skopje. 4 October 2001 Mexico is accredited to North Macedonia from its embassy in Belgrade, Serbia. North Macedonia is accredited to Mexico from its embassy in Washington, D.C., United States. Mexico has an honorary consulate in Skopje.13 September 1995See North Macedonia–United States relations

The United States and North Macedonia enjoy excellent bilateral relations.Makfax Agency United States of America congratulate President Ivanov on his inauguration and are looking forward to continuing of the excellent relations with Macedonia The United States formally recognized North Macedonia on February 8, 1994, and the two countries established full diplomatic relations on September 13, 1995. The U.S. Liaison Office was upgraded to an embassy in February 1996, and the first U.S. Ambassador to Skopje arrived in July 1996. The development of political relations between the United States and North Macedonia has ushered in a whole host of other contacts between the two states. In 2004, the United States recognized the country under its constitutional name of that time – Republic of Macedonia. North Macedonia has an embassy in Washington, D.C. and consulates-general in Chicago, Detroit and Ridgefield Park. United States has an embassy in Skopje.

Asia Country Formal Relations BeganNotes28 June 1995See Azerbaijan–North Macedonia relations The government of North Macedonia recognized the independence of Azerbaijan on June 25, 1995. Diplomatic relations were established on June 28, 1995.12 October 1993See China–North Macedonia relations

On October 12, 1993, the Government of the Republic of North Macedonia and the Government of the People's Republic of China (PRC) established diplomatic relations with North Macedonia expressly declaring that the Government of the PRC is the sole legal government of China, and Taiwan as an inalienable part of the Chinese territory. The Government of North Macedonia affirmed it would not establish any form of official relations with Taiwan. China has an embassy in Skopje. North Macedonia has an embassy in Beijing.16 February 2019See Georgia–North Macedonia relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on February 16, 2019.1996See India–North Macedonia relations Both countries established diplomatic relations in 1996. North Macedonia has an embassy in New Delhi.Indonesia is represented in North Macedonia by its embassy in Sofia, Bulgaria. Indonesia has an honorary consulate in Skopje. 10 March 1995 Both countries established diplomatic relations on March 10, 1995. Iran has an embassy in Skopje. North Macedonia is accredited to Iran from its embassy in Ankara, Turkey.7 December 1995See Israel–North Macedonia relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on December 7, 1995. Israel has an honorary consulate in Skopje. North Macedonia has an embassy in Tel Aviv.March 1994See Japan–North Macedonia relations Both countries established diplomatic relations in March 1994. North Macedonia opened its first resident embassy in Tokyo in 2013 and the first resident ambassador of North Macedonia to Japan is H.E. Dr. Andrijana Cvetkovik Japan has an embassy in Skopje.The two countries hold regular political consultations on subjects of political, economic, cultural, humanitarian issues. North Macedonia has an embassy in Astana.11 October 1993 Both countries established diplomatic relations on October 11, 1993. They enjoy friendly relations. DPRK is represented in North Macedonia through its embassy in Sofia.18 July 2019Due to the concern of Greece on Macedonia naming dispute, The Republic of Korea did not establish formal diplomatic relations with Macedonia until it renamed itself "Republic of North Macedonia". Both countries established diplomatic relations on July 18, 2019. South Korea is represented in North Macedonia through its embassy in Sofia, Bulgaria. North Macedonia has an embassy in Doha. Qatar has an embassy in Skopje.27 January 1999Notwithstanding the above, North Macedonia and the Republic of China on Taiwan (ROC) established diplomatic relations on January 27, 1999. This development increased the number of the ROC's diplomatic allies in Europe from one to two (the other being the Holy See). The PRC was opposed to this and in retaliation vetoed the UN resolution renewing the mandate of the UNPREDEP (a peacekeeping force) in North Macedonia. On April 28, 1999, North Macedonia opened an embassy in Taipei, ROC.ROC Yearbook 2009 The Republic of North Macedonia and the PRC normalized their relations on June 18, 2001. On the same day, the ROC severed diplomatic relations with North Macedonia. In the joint communiqué between North Macedonia and People's Republic of China, North Macedonia recognized "emphatically that there is but one China in the world, that the Government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China and that Taiwan is an inalienable part of the Chinese territory".See North Macedonia–Turkey relations

Due to historical and cultural mutualities and human bonds North Macedonia and Turkey have very close and friendly relations.Republic of Turkey – Ministry of Foreign Affairs Shortly after North Macedonia declared its independence from the former Yugoslavia in 1991, Turkey was among the first countries to recognise North Macedonia's sovereignty. Bilateral relations were established on August 26, 1992. North Macedonia has an embassy in Ankara and a consulate-general in Istanbul. Turkey has an embassy in Skopje and a consulate-general in Bitola. Both countries are full members of NATO. North Macedonia has an embassy in Abu Dhabi.10 June 1994Both countries established diplomatic relations on June 10, 1994. North Macedonia is represented in Vietnam through its embassy in Beijing, China. Vietnam is represented in North Macedonia through its embassy in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Europe Country Formal Relations BeganNotesSee Albania–North Macedonia relations

Recently (Aug. 2008) they signed a treaty enabling visa-free movement between the countries. Both countries support each other's ethnic minorities in cultural, political and educational aspects. During the ethnic conflict in 2001, the Albanian government did not interfere and supported a peaceful resolution. Albania had recognized Skopje under the UN provisional reference of the "former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia",United Nations, A/RES/47/225, April 8, 1993United Nations Security Council Resolutions 817 of April 7 and 845 June 18, 1993, see UN resolutions made on 1993 abbreviated as FYROM. Both countries are full members of the NATO and Council of Europe. On 26 November 2019, an earthquake struck Albania. North Macedonia sent €100,000 in financial aid, drones with thermal cameras, rescue teams and mechanical equipment for relief operations. Both countries started EU Accession negotiations on 24 March 2020. Albania has an embassy in Skopje. North Macedonia has an embassy in Tirana. 23 December 1994See Austria–North Macedonia relations Austria has an embassy in Skopje. North Macedonia has an embassy in Vienna. Both countries are full members of the Council of Europe. Austria is an EU member and North Macedonia is an EU candidate. Belgium is accredited to North Macedonia from its embassy in Sofia, Bulgaria. North Macedonia has an embassy in Brussels. Both countries are full members of NATO.See Bosnia and Herzegovina–North Macedonia relations

Bosnia has an embassy in Skopje. North Macedonia has an embassy in Sarajevo.On 15 January 1992, Bulgaria was the first country to officially recognize the then Republic of Macedonia. On 12 September 1992, consulates general of both countries were opened, in Sofia and Skopje respectively. On 21 December 1993, diplomatic relations at the embassy level were established between Bulgaria and the Republic of Macedonia.See Bulgaria–North Macedonia relations