Whereas the Republic of North Macedonia peacefully asserted and achieved independent statehood in 1991, during the course of the former Yugoslavia’s violent disintegration, and has since become a secure, democratic, and prosperous country and a key United States ally and strategic partner in the Western Balkans; Whereas North Macedonia affirmed its commitment to joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in 1993, adopted major defense reforms, built a modern, professional defense force, and became the 30th NATO alliance member on March 27, 2020; Whereas, in 1993, the National Guard State Partnership Program was established between the State of Vermont and the Republic of North Macedonia; Whereas North Macedonia was the first Western Balkan country to sign a Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the European Union (EU) and became an official EU candidate country in 2005; Whereas, in 2008, the United States signed a Declaration of Strategic Partnership and Cooperation with North Macedonia; Whereas, on June 17, 2018, the foreign ministers of the Hellenic Republic and the Republic of Macedonia signed the Prespa Agreement, resolving a bilateral dispute that had hindered North Macedonia’s EU membership bid; Whereas, in March 2020, European Union member states endorsed opening accession negotiations with North Macedonia, and pursuant to a July 2022 protocol, North Macedonia committed to adopt certain constitutional changes in order to resolve an additional bilateral disagreement; Whereas, in June 2022, North Macedonia became the first Western Balkan country to start a strategic dialogue with the United States, marking a significant bilateral milestone and step toward implementation of the Declaration of Strategic Partnership; Whereas, in November 2023, the European Commission outlined a new growth plan to provide Western Balkans countries certain EU membership benefits ahead of accession, boost economic growth, and accelerate socio-economic convergence with the EU