The relations between North Macedonia and Greece have long been marked by political tensions, particularly revolving around the naming dispute. Greece objected to the use of the name "Macedonia" due to historical and cultural reasons and opposed the international recognition of the Republic of Macedonia, which declared independence in 1991, under that name. This disagreement led to Greece blocking Macedonia’s accession to international organizations and causing diplomatic crises between the two countries.

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Historical Background of the Naming Dispute

The name "Macedonia" has historically been associated with the ancient Macedonian Kingdom, founded by Alexander the Great’s father, Philip II, and has been regarded as an integral part of Greece’s northern region. However, during the Ottoman period, the name "Macedonia" was used to define a broader geographical area, including present-day North Macedonia, northern Greece, and southern Bulgaria. In the late Ottoman period, this region was referred to as "Vilayet-i Selase" (Three Provinces).

After the Balkan Wars (1912-1913) and the Ottoman Empire's withdrawal from the Balkans, Macedonian territories were divided among Greece, Bulgaria, and Serbia, with most of present-day North Macedonia being left under Serbian control. In 1944, Yugoslav leader Josip Broz Tito incorporated the region into the Yugoslav Federation as the Socialist Republic of Macedonia, emphasizing a distinct Macedonian identity.

Greece viewed Tito’s move to establish a separate Macedonian identity and national entity as a potential threat, fearing it could encourage separatism in Greek Macedonia. As a result, Greece never recognized the Macedonian identity promoted in Yugoslavia. Tito's decision to make the Macedonian language official in 1945 and his support for Slavic-speaking groups in Greece further heightened Greece’s national security concerns, leading to ongoing tensions between the two countries.

Post-Independence Crisis (1991-1995)

When Macedonia declared independence on September 8, 1991, Greece strongly opposed its recognition as the "Republic of Macedonia." Greece argued that the name "Macedonia" belonged exclusively to its northern region and claimed that a country using this name could have territorial claims over Greek Macedonia.

Due to these objections, Greece blocked Macedonia’s full membership in international organizations such as the United Nations, NATO, and the European Union. As a compromise, in 1993, Macedonia was admitted to the United Nations under the provisional name "Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" (FYROM).

In 1994, Greece imposed an economic embargo on Macedonia, citing the use of the Vergina Sun—a historical Macedonian symbol—on the national flag. This embargo severely affected Macedonia’s economy and significantly disrupted its foreign trade.

Interim Agreement and Diplomatic Efforts (1995-2018)

On September 13, 1995, with the mediation of the United Nations, Greece and Macedonia signed the "Interim Agreement," under which:

• Macedonia changed its flag by removing the Vergina Sun symbol.
• Greece agreed not to obstruct Macedonia’s international economic relations.
• Macedonia pledged not to interfere in Greece’s territorial integrity and internal affairs.

However, the core issue of the name remained unresolved, and Greece continued to veto Macedonia’s accession to NATO and the EU. At the 2008 NATO Summit in Bucharest, Greece formally blocked Macedonia’s membership, escalating tensions between the two countries.

Prespa Agreement (2018) and Name Change

Following prolonged negotiations under UN supervision, Greece and Macedonia signed the Prespa Agreement on June 17, 2018, as a resolution to the dispute. According to this agreement:

• The Republic of Macedonia agreed to change its official name to the "Republic of North Macedonia."
• Greece recognized this new name and pledged not to block North Macedonia’s NATO and EU accession.

The agreement was ratified by both countries’ parliaments in 2019 and officially went into effect.

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Following this resolution, on March 27, 2020, North Macedonia officially became NATO’s 30th member. However, despite overcoming Greece’s objections, North Macedonia faced new obstacles in its EU accession process due to historical and linguistic disputes with Bulgaria, delaying negotiations.

Current Relations with Greece

The Prespa Agreement marked a new era in bilateral relations, leading to increased diplomatic engagements. Economic cooperation between the two countries has grown, with Greek companies making significant investments in North Macedonia. Additionally, cultural and academic collaborations have expanded.

However, nationalist groups in Greece continue to oppose the agreement, and occasional tensions still arise between the two nations. While Greece supports North Macedonia’s EU membership, Bulgaria has imposed new hurdles related to historical disagreements, further delaying the accession process.