The torching of two vehicles belonging to the Bulgarian Embassy in Skopje has once again stirred tensions between Skopje and Sofia—tensions that, in reality, have never truly subsided. Relations between North Macedonia and Bulgaria rank among the most complex in the Balkans, as they are shaped by an intricate interplay of politics, national identity, language, history and geopolitics. Divergent interpretations of the very issues that define a nation lie at the heart of a dispute spanning decades. Macedonian analysts argue that Skopje must find a way to isolate this bilateral dispute from its European integration process, while emphasizing that the Macedonian and Bulgarian peoples themselves are not at odds. They also maintain that Bulgarian politicians should recognize that it is far preferable to have a European neighbour that respects them and enjoys excellent relations with them than a neighbour with whom meaningful communication scarcely exists.