Countryman: Sekerinska is the right person for NATO Deputy Secretary General

Former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Europe, Thomas Countryman, emphasized that it is no surprise NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte appointed Radmila Sekerinska, former Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration and Defense Minister of North Macedonia, as his deputy. He described her as an exceptionally capable and intelligent woman.

Countryman pointed out that the deputy secretary general’s country of origin is not decisive but rather whether the individual is the most competent for the position.

He highlighted that expertise in diplomacy and defense plays a critical role in the selection.

"It’s not a surprise. She is a very capable and intelligent woman. I personally know three NATO deputy secretaries general, and they are all incredibly smart and capable. This is about diplomacy and defense. It’s not about whether she is from this or that country but whether she is the best person for the role.

"I’ve lived in this region. People here often think this is the center of Europe, if not the universe, but sometimes it’s not about balancing between different countries but about who is the most competent for the position," Countryman explained.