Vlado Misajlovski: North Macedonia’s Defence Minister and the Turkey Framework Agreement Explained
Vlado Misajlovski has been North Macedonia’s Minister of Defence since 24 June 2024 — one of NATO’s youngest defense ministers, a diplomacy graduate with a transport-ministry past rather than a military one. His Turkey file rests on a concrete document: on 23 October 2024, at the SAHA EXPO fair in Istanbul, he and Turkish Defense Minister Yaşar Güler signed the Military Framework Agreement that gives bilateral military relations their legal foundation. He is also managing one of Europe’s most unusual force transformations: a NATO army that donated its entire tank fleet to Ukraine and is rebuilding around wheeled armor and drones.
At a Glance
- Current role: Minister of Defence, Republic of North Macedonia
- In office since: 24 June 2024 (Mickoski cabinet); predecessor Slavjanka Petrovska
- Born: 21 January 1985
- Education: BA in diplomacy and international politics; MA in European and international diplomacy (Skopje)
- Earlier career: Minister of Transport and Communications (2015-2017), state secretary at Foreign Affairs and Transport, state roads agency director
- Turkey contact: signed the Military Framework Agreement with Yaşar Güler at SAHA EXPO, Istanbul, 23 October 2024
- Force transformation: tanks donated to Ukraine; new structure built on 96 JLTVs, Stryker 8x8s and drones
- NATO: member since March 2020 — Turkey was among the first allies to ratify accession
Identity Card
| Field | Data |
| Full name | Vlado Misajlovski |
| Current post | Minister of Defence, North Macedonia |
| In office since | 24 June 2024 |
| Born | 21 January 1985 |
| Education | BA diplomacy and international politics; MA European and international diplomacy and politics (Skopje) |
| Party | VMRO-DPMNE |
| Previous ministerial post | Minister of Transport and Communications (13 May 2015 – 31 May 2017) |
| Predecessor | Slavjanka Petrovska |
Career Path
Born on 21 January 1985, Misajlovski studied diplomacy and international politics in Skopje, adding a master’s in European and international diplomacy. He started in 2009-2010 as foreign policy advisor in the office of the National Assembly’s president, then ran the mayoral support department of Skopje’s Centar municipality. From 2012 to 2014 he was state secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, moving to the same rank at the Ministry of Transport and Communications in 2014, and later directing the state roads agency.
He served as Minister of Transport and Communications in the Gruevski cabinet from 13 May 2015 to 31 May 2017, then spent 2018-2020 in the private sector as commercial director at Kendo 3 LLC in Skopje. Elected to parliament in May 2024, he took the defense portfolio on 24 June 2024 under Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski, succeeding Slavjanka Petrovska.
Career Timeline
| Year | Milestone |
| 1985 | Born, 21 January |
| 2009-2010 | Foreign policy advisor, office of the Assembly president |
| 2012-2014 | State secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs |
| 2014-2015 | State secretary, Transport; state roads agency director |
| 2015-2017 | Minister of Transport and Communications |
| 2018-2020 | Commercial director, Kendo 3 LLC |
| May 2024 | Elected MP |
| 24 Jun 2024 | Minister of Defence |
| 23 Oct 2024 | Signs the Military Framework Agreement with Yaşar Güler at SAHA EXPO |
Why He Matters for Turkey
- Four months into the job he signed the Military Framework Agreement in Istanbul — the legal backbone of bilateral military relations.
- The agreement covers military cooperation, training and intelligence sharing, and has moved into both parliaments’ ratification tracks.
- North Macedonia’s army is being rebuilt from scratch around wheeled armor and drones — two classes where Turkish industry exports at scale.
- Turkey was among the first allies to ratify North Macedonia’s NATO accession; the defense relationship is a steady node of Ankara’s Balkan diplomacy.
- Deep societal ties — including Turkey’s large population of Macedonian descent — keep the relationship’s foundations broad.
Contacts with Turkey — Timeline
| Date | Turkish counterpart | Location | Subject |
| 23 Oct 2024 | Yaşar Güler (Minister of National Defense) | Istanbul, SAHA EXPO | Military Framework Agreement — cooperation, training, intelligence sharing |
The agreement has been submitted to Turkey’s parliament for ratification; entry into force depends on completion of both ratification tracks.
Rebuilding a Tankless NATO Army
North Macedonia transferred its entire T-72 fleet to Ukraine and is rebuilding its land forces around wheeled platforms. The modernization runs on three public tracks: 96 Oshkosh JLTV 4x4s from the US (67 in the fleet as of August 2025), Stryker 8x8s (a reduced order, with the remaining 25 vehicles expected in summer 2026) and assorted drone systems. Per Misajlovski, the program targets a 96-vehicle armored fleet in army service. Additional US contracts cover special forces equipment, UAV systems, cyber defense and light infantry weapons.
Procurement Character
| Supplier | System | Status |
| United States (Oshkosh) | 96 JLTV 4×4 | 67 delivered (Aug 2025); remainder in the pipeline |
| United States (GDLS) | Stryker 8×8 | Reduced order; final 25 due summer 2026 |
| Various | UAVs, cyber defense, light weapons | US contracts + NATO programs |
The doctrine is straightforward: NATO standardization and allied interoperability head every decision. For a small-budget force, cost-effectiveness and ready allied supply lines decide.
Possible Matches for Turkish Industry — Envanter Medya Editorial Assessment
This is Envanter Medya’s open-source editorial assessment, not confirmed sales information.
| Publicly stated need | Turkish product family | Technical relevance | Official talks? |
| Drone systems (an open leg of the modernization plan) | Baykar TB2, TUSAŞ ANKA; STM mini-UAV class | Turkish UAV lines proven with NATO members (Poland, Romania); cost-effective for small forces | None on public record |
| Military training and personnel development | Turkish Armed Forces training programs and academy quotas | Training cooperation is explicitly within the framework agreement | Within the agreement — implementation pending ratification |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Vlado Misajlovski?
North Macedonia’s Minister of Defence since 24 June 2024; a diplomacy graduate and former Minister of Transport and Communications.
How old is he?
Born 21 January 1985; 41 as of 2026.
Who preceded him?
Slavjanka Petrovska.
Has he visited Turkey?
Yes — on 23 October 2024 he signed the Military Framework Agreement with Yaşar Güler at SAHA EXPO in Istanbul.
What agreement do Turkey and North Macedonia have?
The October 2024 Military Framework Agreement covering cooperation, training and intelligence sharing.
Where are North Macedonia’s tanks?
The entire T-72 fleet was donated to Ukraine; the army is rebuilding around wheeled armor and drones.
What is North Macedonia buying?
96 JLTVs and Stryker 8x8s from the US, plus UAV, cyber-defense and light-weapons contracts.
Is North Macedonia in NATO?
Yes, since March 2020 — Turkey was among the first allies to ratify its accession.
Sources
- North Macedonia Ministry of Defence (mod.gov.mk) — official biography
- Wikipedia (English) — Vlado Misajlovski entry (starting point, cross-checked)
- Turkish MoND and TRT — Military Framework Agreement signing (23 October 2024, SAHA EXPO)
- MIA (North Macedonia’s state news agency) — agreement coverage
- Turkish Grand National Assembly records — ratification track
- Army Recognition, Janes, Defense Express — JLTV/Stryker deliveries and force transformation
- Image: Vlado Misajlovski (2024) — Wikimedia Commons, public domain (Arlington National Cemetery)
Last updated: 17 August 2026
