Mattis condemns Russia for influence-peddling in Macedonia

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis has arrived in Macedonia condemning Russian efforts to use its money and influence to build opposition to an upcoming vote that could pave the way for the country to join NATO a move Moscow opposes.

Mattis said there is “no doubt” that Moscow has been funding pro-Russian groups in order to defeat the referendum on a name change later this month.

he said they have transferred money and they’re also conducting broader influence campaigns,

Macedonians will vote Sept. 30 on whether to approve the new name of North Macedonia is an effort to placate Greece, which has for years blocked Macedonia’s path to NATO and the European Union.

Mattis is the latest in a string of international leaders visiting Macedonia to voice support for the referendum, and he’s the most senior U.S. official to go there.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, German chancellor Angela Merkel, and Austrian chancellor Sebastian Kurz have all visited and made public endorsements of the name change.