Original title of the article: KRIVOLAK. Let me say this, and as for you, do as you wish!? The newest US military base – Krivolak.
The portal Dudinka, in its article, conspires about an alleged existence of a US military base in the Republic of North Macedonia, which, in secret agreement with one or two leading figures of the executive government and without the Assembly’s knowledge and approval, was built on the Krivolak Army Range. The text further states that the most deadly drones for the needs of US missions in the fight against terrorism in Afghanistan, the Middle East or North African countries will fly from the Krivolak runway. Finally, it states that members of the alleged US base in Krivolak are protected by special laws over which the host country has no legal authority in punishing and sanctioning.
Link to the article: Dudinka
The title of the article is manipulative, and the information in the rest of the text is deliberately misinterpreted and spinned. This announcement is part of an anti-NATO narrative that has been developing for some time through various portals both from the state and beyond in this region, about which the F2N2 team has written previously .
The portal Dudinka knowingly and deliberately misrepresents certain facts in order to spread false news about the United States and undermine citizens’ support for the country’s Euro-Atlantic integration. Such anti-NATO narratives create a sense of insecurity and create a false image among the citizens about the United States’ commitment to the Republic of North Macedonia, as the country’s largest strategic partner and ally.
The F2N2 team rates this article as manipulative and unreliable, as no source of information is cited.
Let’s start from the beginning.
According to the US Department of Defense’s annual Budget Report, in 2018, the United States had a total of 514 military bases outside its territory, three times less than the claims made by Milenko Nedelkovski, who in his article states that there are more than 1,500 US military bases in total all around the world.
In 2017, the Army of the Republic of North Macedonia together with the US Army in Europe conducted a field exercise entitled “Dragon Guardian 17”. During the exercise, among other activities, the military of the two countries jointly built a runway for drones. For this purpose, at its 8th Session held on 11.06.2017, the Government decided to allow the US Armed Forces to exercise activities in Krivolak. In addition, the Ministry of Defense confirmed that during the exercise, the troops in Krivolak will jointly build an unmanned aerial runway, which later will be used for needs of the ARM. Therefore, the Government had previously given consent for the entry of the foreign troops into our territory, and the runway that has been constructed remains owned by the Republic of North Macedonia.
In order to establish military bases as well as define the status of its troops, the host country signs an Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) with NATO. It is a mandatory protocol that is important for several reasons.
First, any unauthorized presence of a foreign army in another foreign territory without the prior consent of the host country is regarded as an act of aggression. Regarding the presence of the foreign troops on our territory, the Government approved the presence of the foreign troops for the needs and during the holding of the military exercise “Final blow 19” in Krivolak. At the 130th Session held on 16.04.2019, the Government, at the proposal of the Ministry of Defense, adopted a Decision approving the entry and stay of foreign armed forces members in the territory of the Republic of North Macedonia for the purpose of performing the “Decisive Blow” exercise, which will be implemented from May 20 to July 15 this year in several phases”
Second, SOFA agreements are necessary for regulating legal documents related to the length of stay of the foreign troops, obtaining a residence permit for foreign troops, the status of foreign troops in the country (such as residence visas, travel documents), etc.
Third, because of defining jurisdiction over the bases. This regulates the status of the inventory and equipment of the foreign troops in the host country, i.e. it states who owns the inventory at the base, land, etc. In addition, certain matters related to investigations are also defined if a crime is committed by foreign troops in the host country or if a soldier is attacked by the civilian population or civilian and/or uniformed personnel of the host nation’s security forces, who is responsible for the internal and external security of the base and more. For example, as the author of the text points to the United States, the SOFA Agreement between the United States and Japan stipulates, among other things, the obligation of the two countries to conduct joint investigations and evidence gathering in the event of a criminal offense, as well as arresting members of the USAF mission and members of their families.
Fourth, the SOFA agreement is also concluded due to the necessity of defining the financial obligations related to the operation and maintenance of the military bases.
NATO has signed Agreements on the status of the Armed Forces with various countries, including the Republic of North Macedonia, which was also ratified in the Parliament, Afghanistan, Russia and other countries. Therefore, any decision to establish a foreign military base on the territory of the RNM must be initialed by a SOFA agreement, which is ratifyed by the Assembly.
Last but not least, the F2N2 team sees no negative economic or security consequences from the establishment of a foreign military base on the territory of the Republic of North Macedonia. To illustrate, annually, US military bases in the UK generated revenue of 1.3 billion American dollars for the host country. You can read more about NATO’s impact on the local economy in Bosnia and Herzegovina on the following link.
